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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY
01" THE

UNITED STATES MINT
WITH A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF

AMERICAN COINAGE,
From the earliest period to the present time. The
Process of Melting, Refining, Assaying, and
Coining Gold arid Silver fully described:
WITH BIOGR.A.PHIC.A.L SXETCHE OP

Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush,
John Jay Knox, James P. Kimball, Daniel M. Fox, and the Mint
Officers from its foundation to the present time,
TO WHICH ARE ADDED

A

GLOSSARY OF MINT TERMS
AND THK

LATEST OFFICIAL TABLES
OF·THE

Annual Products of Gold and Silver in the different
States, and Foreign Countries, with Monetary
Statistics of all Nations.
ILLUSTRATED with PHOTOTYPES, STEEL PLATE PORTRAITS and WOOD ENGRAVINGS,.
with NUMEROUS PLATES of Photographic Reproductions of RARE AMERICAN
COINS, and Price list of their numismatic value,

New R_evised Edi"tion, Edi"ted by the Publi"sher~

PHILADELPHIA:

GEORGE G. EV ANS,

PUBLISHER.

1887.

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1886,

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DUNLAP .. CLARKE,
Pan,,. .... .f,)IIIJ Book BntDSU
819•21 ll'U, HRT 8TJl&&T,
PHILA.DSLPI IU,.

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INDEX.
Adjuoting room ............................................................................................... ..
American coins In Hawaii................................................................................ .
II

fil~~~~i:~~:::::•.:::•.:::•::::••::::•:::::::::.:•::::::.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::::::::::

gold product of the dlJferent states and territories ............................ .

silver

u

"

"

............................ .

A.mount coined In 1884 (fiocal year) .................................................................. .
"
of Coin In the United States ............................................................... .
Ancient coining .............................................................................................. .

PAGB
32
141
129
129
136
136
13~
136
2

«

"

Greek coins ........................................................................................ .

"

Roman coins ...................................................................................... .

46

1~hti!;1~!;~\~~;bted·~·~~i·~·~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::..::::::

29
5
137

Persian coins ...................................................................................... .

, 45

8

;i;J:ti~t±Et;/t/'.'.\/E//:i/\/\}//\)HH:Hii/H/I

23
112
24
25

rooms ................................................................................................ .

24

~~er, ~itff:,~·• Mint ~ngraver_-_-:.:::::··:::.:·_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-.-.:::::·:::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::::::::::::

116
116

Bars manufactured at Minta during fi•cal year ending June 30, 1884 ................. .

128

Bland dollar, hl•tory of .................................................................................... .
Bond of Indemnity signed by employees of first mint, 1799 ...•••.••..•...............•.•.•.•

62
17
112
102
111
113

FJ::~~:litrt~::t~~~~:·::::.:::::::::::::.::::::::::::.:::::·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·::·::::·:·:·:·:·::·:·:·:·:·:·::·::·:·:

Boyd, N. B., ABBiatant Melter and Refiner ........................................................ .
Brazilian coins ................................................................................................ .
Bullion deposit and purchase of (table) ............................................................. .

::"

58
132

~~ t~~j"!l\E~ :i'~t~~~.~~~.~~~.~~::::::::::::::::::::::::.::::::::::::::::::::::::·:::.::::::

132
135
133

0

wasted in operation........................... . ............................................... .

Brief explanation of terms commonly used In treating of bullion, Mint coinage,
and money, (see oummary) ......................................................................... .

150

Cabinet of coin• and relics................................................................................

41

g~rJ:;'"J:.~::: N:ig~i~~~·.-.:::::::::·.·:.:::·::::.::·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: us, llI
Chinese coins.. .-.................................................................................................

51 ·
136
137
112

Circulation of gold and silver In the United States....................................... 130-132,
"
ot silver dollars..............................................................................
Cloud, Joseph...................................................................................................
Cobb, Mark H, Cashier.....................................................................................
Cotge.fn~·::~1if~i·~~·~~~·~~~i;;~~:·:·::::·.··:·:·::·:·.::.::·:·::·:·:·::::::::'.:::::::::'.::·:::::::::::::·:::::::::
and milling rooms............................... ...............................................
for Foreign States at the Mint of the United States...............................
of first silver dollar ............................ ~................... ............. ...............
of standard dollars...............................................................................
of the United States in 1884..................................................................
"

99

117
' ;;

of various countries, (see table)............................................................

35

141

rn

137

13.5

1:-39

Coiner• of Mint. ............................................................................................... 109-112
Coins claBBlficatlon of........................................................................................ 48-68
" English, of the Commonwealth and Cromwell............................................ 56,57
" issued at the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia, from its establishment In 1792,
·
to 1885............................................................................................... 81-89
" ot Athens................................................................................................
4i
" ot China ................................................................................. :........ ,........
51

"" ~~of Kalakaua..
~~l[~;;~d·;,:;;,i""j~;;_i;~i"i.;:::::::::::::::::::::·.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::i::.:·::::::::::::::::::
........ .. . . . ... ... .. . .. .... ... .. . .. .... . .... .. . .. .... ... . . . ... ... . ...... ... ...... ... .. . . . .
11

of Siam ........................................................................ ,...........................

~

141
50

" ~~f:'z~~r:!~t~::::::::::::::·::·.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: lll5-tg~46

" Syrian............................................. .........................................................

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IV
Colonial coins ................................................................................................. ..
"
paper money ................................ ............................................. . ,,u, .••
pine tree money ................................................................................ ..

~:~=~ (iJ. es.11'.\~~~~/~~ .~.~~.~~~~.°.~.~~'..~. '..~..~~~.~.~~.~.~~·l·•·~'..~~~.~.~..~.~~~::·.:·

Co.Py of p"J'er laid in corner stone of the Mint ................................................ ..
1
Costu::.~
Cox, Albion ..................................................................................................... .
Curator of the Mint......................................................................................... .
Curiosities and n1inerala .................................................................................. .
Currency of the United States, (table of) ........................................................... .

0.!':J!~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·::.'.'.'.'.".'.'.:·::::.:·.::·::.'.'.'.'.".'.'.':::::::::::::::::::::::
II

u

world,

"

.............................................................. .

Def.""its of ~old of domestic production at Mints, for year endln~ June,

1884......

De;aus•?'il!~!i~Whi¥=;:~~~;:::·:·::·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:.:·.':·:::::::::::::::::::::::
Dies and medals............................................................ ..... ...... ...... ...... ............
0

mad.e in 1884............. .................................................. ...........

"

P£GB
69

122
69

s.,

162
18
12
6

117
118

48

148

140

lfJ

1~I

147
147

Dimes and half dimes.......................................................................................
130
Directors and Superintendent. ol Mints ............................................................ 101-109
Distribution of currency or the United States...................................................
l-i6

~:1:~

Do)[ar
bistor, of:::::::::·.::·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::::::::::::
" trade
"
....................................................................................
Donations or old coins .............. ,........................................................................
Double eagle of 1849, history of.............................. ...........................................

~

61
69

65

~~ ti!; tifil.:''it.~:;!~.~.~~?~.::::·.:::·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 12a-I¥
Earnings and expenditures of Philadelphia Mint .............................................. 135,136

:!..~~f~~~~"/i=f i/ /Ct/\\}ii ,Jg
" of the Commonwealth and Cromwell.............................................
67
Engravers and die-sinkers at the Mint.. ............................................................ 113-116

l?..iif!t;;~j:~~~:~;~i:.:.:_::::::::::.:·:·:·:·::::·:·:·::·::·:::::::::::::::::::::::::.:.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

~f:".:rt;:'
c" ~~~li~~1~~
~,i~~e<u~1i~ t~i~~~:.:::::::·::::.::·:::::::.::·:::::::::::::::::::::
"
report of the Director of the Mint................................................

tt

m

Resolution of Congress relating to Mint.......................................

120
19

1
lf:.1f
rn~~~n~i~J~'.~~:.:·:.::::·::::::.:::·:::::.:·.:::::::::.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.
" U.S.money "
.......................................................... .........................

14

"

tr

Foreign coins, value ofin United States money, (table of).................................
144
Fox, Hon. Daniel M., Sunerintendent............................................................... 106-109
French coins, Marie Antoinette, etc..................................................................
54

German coins .................................................................................................. .

g~-;,s:::lt~~~\~\~~:'.'.~::::::.::·::.:::·:::.:·.:·:.:·.:::·:·.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:n;:~

G~}d .:~~
i;,u.~:~ii~~~ho"t~t!';.,~~fa~~.i~~~
.~~~'.~~~.~.~-~.~~•.~.~
" bars exchanged for coin, (table of) ........................................................ ,.. .
"
"
"
"

~~~.i.'.'.~.:.~.~~

~~Y~~~lJu'v:at:o~~:ri:.....:: ....... ::::::::::·::::::::.:·.:·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
coins of the United States ........................................................................ .
fluctuations of, from 1862 to 1878 ............................................................. ..
medallic ducat, head of Luther ..................................................................
silver, and bronze medals made in 1884..................................................... .

&~~~f!1nd:;i~;~~~-~~~~~-.".".".".".".".::·.:·:::.·:.:·::.".".".".".".".".·.~:::::·:.:·:.::::·:.:·.:~:::·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Greek Republic .............................................................................................. ..
Gun money of James II ................................................................................... .
Hamilton, Alexander ...................................................................................... .
Head of Jupiter Ammon, (a specimen of) ......................................................... .
"
Minerva, with Greek helmet.. ............................................................ ..
Heraldic emblems ...................................................... , .................................... ..
Historical sketch of first U.S. Mint.. ............................................... ................. .

::::; iti~f::~t I£Fil~r:z:t.~.:.:..-_.:_.: .: : :.: :.-:.:·:.-: : : : : : . .: :.-: : : : : : : : : : : :
0

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55

150
116
132

139
134

128
67
154
148
66

147
46

44

46
57

92
-!7
66
5

7-10
1-6

17

6

'

V

lmporie, 1882 to 1884, comparative statement ...................................... :............. .
Incidents of hll!tory on coins .............................................................................
introduction .................................................................................................... .

PAGB

1-1.2

'

1,2

53
90, 91

58
Xalall:aua, coin• of....: ...................................................................................... .
Kimball, .raw.,. Putnam ..................................................................................... .

f~!~iw:w;a~·;
i:~:~:~ .~!~~~~ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·.-.-.:::::·.-.-.-.-.::::::·:.::::::·.:·.:::
K:nox, John Jay, ....................................................................•.............................
Langungc upon coins and medals .................................................................... .
Linderman, Henry Richard, M. D., Superintendent ................... ................... ... .
Longacre, James B., EngraTer .......................................................................... .
McClure, R. A., Curator...................................................................... ..............

141
98,94

116

114
95-98
6

104
115

118

ri~~~
a,h:!~1~:i~~i~·~:::::::·.·_-_-.::::·.::::::::::::::::::.::::::::::·.::·_-_-_-_-_-_-::::::::::::::::::::::::.::
"
and dies made at the Philadelphia Mint .................... ,...........................

:f;
147

gf''&~ectf
n'°~!~;,;{j;j;;;:::·_-_-.-.::·.:::·::.:::·.:·.::: :::::::::::: :·::::.:·.-. :::::::::::::::::·:::.:::::::::
French "
...... .. . ......... .......... .. .... ... ... .. .......... ........ ......... . ..... .

gi54

f:!i:~d/.;;;i~!~::::::::::::::::::::::::.:·:::::::.·.:·.·.·.·_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-.·_-.·.·_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-::::::::::::::

J

0

and proof sets sold at the Mint .................................................. ,............
147
partial list of, for sale at the Mint .......................................................... 151-153
Melter and refiner's office..................................................................................
23
Melters and refiners or the Mint ..........................................................•........... 112,113
!!citing rooms .............................................................. , ......... ...... .... ,................
26
l\letallic money In Colonial t.imes..................... ...... .. . ..................... ...... ...... ......
60
Mexican coins..................................................................................................
58
Mint earnings and expenditures ...................................... ,................................
185
" engravers ................................................................................................ 113-116
" officers.................................................... .................................................
123
M~?ey
"

German
Grecian

"
"

........................................................ ....................
...... ................... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .. .......

Time of Moses..............................................................................
Turki•h Empire...........................................................................
United States...............................................................................
Moore, Samuel, M. D., Director..........................................................................
Morgan, Geor~e T., Assistant Engraver........................................... ..................
Morris, Robert, diary of....................................................................................
1

'

55
46

46

64

61
102
116
7

National medals ................................................................................................ 151-153
New Yorll:doubloon..........................................................................................
61
Note to visitors of the Philadelphia Mint..........................................................
163
Notes on the early history of the Mint..............................................................
7-10
Number of ounces of standard ailver purchased for fiscal year or 1884...............
134
Oak tree money ............................................................................................... .
Officera of Mint ............................................................................................... .
Oliver f:romwell, cast of.................................................................................... .
Oriental coins .......................................................................... ........................ .
Paciftc coast coins ............................................................................................ .
Paper money, agip-egate issue in war times ....................................................... .
Parting and refimng ........................................................................................ .

ro:;!•/.;_~·

D., Dir4;:'tor_-::::::·_-_-_-_-.-.:::::::::::::.'.':::::.'.':::.'.'::::::::::::::::·::.:::::::::
Patt,'.'rson,
Pay roll of first Mint ....................................................................................... .
Peale, Franklin, Coiner and Assayer ............................................................... .
Penny of William the Conqueror ..................................................................... .
Persian coins ...... ............................................................................................ .

;~~}:,rf~!~!
f/.~ g1~~!t~~~~~:-.'.'.'.'.'.·:.::::::::·.::•.-:.·::::::::::::::::::::::::::·.:::::::::::::.::::::::::
Philadelphia Mint, operations of.................................................................... .
9

Pine tree money .............................................................................................. .
Pollock, James, A.M. LL. D., Director .............................................................. .
~ortraiture upon coins .................................................................................. .. .

;~~:l~f!~1fn°:,
~h!~}!~ Fi!!t·::::::.::::·.:·::.:::::::·.::::::::·.:::::·.::·.::::::·::.:::::·.:·.:::::::·.::::::::
Precious metals, production of, from 1493 to 1875 (table of) ................................ .

60

123
42

50, 67
62
146
26

102

102
12
110
M
4.5
43
103

138
59

103
3

58
56

Preoidential medals ...................................................... ,.................................. .

142
152

i~::~1!i~';,1~f;!n.~~~.•..~'.~.~~~.~.~~.".".·.:·:::::.·:.:·::::::.·.·::::::::.·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

138
33

Proof sets and medals sold, (table or) ............................................................... .

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1'7

VI
PAGB

B&re coiru,, price II.lit, (approximate value) ........................... :u ......... ; .••••.••••••••••• lM-181
'2
Relics in Cabinet ... . •..••... .. . ..•....... •..•.• ...... ... ... ... ... .. . ... ... ..• .••••• ... ... ...... ...... ....... ..
Reaolution of Congre811, establishing the Mint....................................................
U

f~~b~r,er . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-: . .-.-. .-.-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _-_-_-_-. _-_-_-. . . . :::;::::::::

Rlcba:;dson,
Rittenhouse, David, first Director.....................................................................

m
101

E~1 t;~:::::~:::·:·::.:::::.-..:.: : : ·:·:·: :·: :.:.: .:.:.:.: : .:.:.:.:.: :.: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 5

Rules and regulations of first mint....................................................................
Rush, Benjauiin, Treasurer...................................................................... . ... ...
Russian coins...................................................................................................
"
double rouble, head of Peter the Great................................... .............
Ryal or royal, of Queen Elizabeth.....................................................................

16-16
116

:t~~~f

ss~f!

::~~:::·::::::.:.::::::·::.:::::::·::.::.:.:_:_:_:_:i:.:.:_:_::·:·::·:·:·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

t~!~a!~1g
:i! ~~ii t~fif~~~~:~:~~i:~:~: \~~.~:b!.~i:~:·:·: :·:·:·:·:·:·:·:· --::.: :·: : : : : .: : :
" dollars, coinage and circulation of, (see table)..........................................

Siamese coins...... .... .. ... ... ...... ...... .. . .. ... . ... .. . .. . .. .... ...... ...... .. ... . .. . .• ... . ... ... ...... ... ...
Silver, coins of the United States, (see table)......................................................
"
first American.................................................................................... ..•
"
production of, 1883, by States, (see table).................................................
Snowden, Col. A. Loudon, Coiner, Superintendent.............................................
"
James Roos, LL. D. Superintendent...................................................
Sovereign of Oliver Cromwel1.................................... ................................. .....
Specie and paper circulation of the United States, table of............ .............. ......
"
"
" World,(seetable)........................................
" clrcalatlon ..............................................................................................
coinage at the Philadelphia Min~ fiscal year 1884, (table of).....................
"
"
from the organization 01 Mint,
"
............... ......
Standard weights ......................................•......................................................
Statement by months, of fine gold bars exchanged for coin, (see table)................
"
of coinage from organization to June SO, 1884, (see tables) ..................
of gold and silver bullion purchased, and silver dollars coined for year
"
ending June, 1884, (see table) ....•...............................................
1

~~;ld~ ~n!ge~~'..~~::.:·.::·:::. :::::::::::. . . . .-::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

M
M
56

~=

129

50

121
14

1116

UM

103
S7
140
140
148, 149
129
129
118-120
134
129,180
134, 135

f~

Summary of Annual Report of the Director of all the Mints, for the fiscal year
ending June 30th, 188S............................................................................... .

162

~:=~~rn_rt:;;aihi"g"~r·i:.;;"iu~;;;·;;;i;;i~;~~i·;;;,:j~;-.;;d·;;;~·;;e;;::::::::::::

150

0
~~::::::~.

142

Table of circulation of gold and stlver....•..............................•........• ,..•.............. 148,149
135
"
coinage In the United State•................................................................
" showing the circulation of paper money, and gold and sliver In the United
States..................................................................................
140
"
"
where the precious metals come from..........................................
136
Table for the whole world............................ .......................................•............
140
The Mint Engravers......................................................................................... 118-116
"The temple sweepers," Grecian coin................................................................
49
Total coinage of the U.S. Mints to June so, 1884................................................
135
Trade dollar, history of.....................................................................................
62

~~ '!::l~a:..~~'.~!.'.'.~'.:'.'. ~~-~~~::·.:::::·.::·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:

United States, circulation of coin in, (table of)...................................................
United States coins..........................................................................................
"
"
Mint first establillhed........ ... .............. ........................ ......... .........
U.S. Mint test for gold and silver......................................................... ............

180

61

7

150

Valuable and rare coins, price-list of....•..................................••........................ 155-161
Val~f'

~':.!1:.!~..~~.~~.~~.~~~~.::.~~..~.~.~..~~~~~.~~'...~~.!~'.~'..~~.~'.~~~~~..~.~~

162

~~1~ti!~~~~1;;;;;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::. :::::::::. . :::::::::::::

1~

fit;E~!7,s~r:f~;1n~~?.~~~~:::·::·::·::::·::·:::·:·:·:·:·.:.:::::·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.::::·::.:::::::

153
133
68

World's coinage, (table of) ............................................................................... .
"
11roductlon of gold and sliver, (table of) .............................................•
Wright, Joseph, EngraTer ................................................................................ .

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140
189
114

INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.
Ancient coining press ..............................................................................." ......
Automatic weighing scales ............................................................................... .

Ill
22

Coining room .................................., ............................................................... .
Continental currency (fa.o-elmile photo reproduction) ........................................ .

g:!:~t=-~~~~::·::::::·.·.·.·.·.·.:::·.:·.·.·.·.·.-.:·.·.·_-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.::::::::·.·.-.-.-.-.-.:::·.-.-.:·.-.-.-.-.::::::::::·.-.:::'.·:::::::::

38
122
31
40

Dies ................................................................................................................ ..

34

urawlng bench ................................................................................................ .

30

First steam coining press ................................................................................ ..
Frontispiece profile likeness of Washlngton, from plllllter cast, taken from him
at Mount Vernon, October, 1785, (phototype by Gutekunst).

34

Ingots and Ingot casting ................................................................................... .

'J:1

Milling machine .............................................................................................. .

86

Original Resolution of Congress establishing a mint, (photo-engraving by Levytype Company) ........................................................................................... .

11

Perfected coining press .................................................................................... .
Phototype portrait or Dr. James P. Kimball, Director of all the U. S. Minta,
(by Gutekunst) .......................................................................................... .
Picture of first U. S. Mint.. .............................................................................. .
Portrait or Hon. Daniel M. Fox, (phototype by Gutekunst) .............................. .

37

Rolling machine ........................................... _ .................................................. .

29

Scales for weighing bullion .............................................................................. .
Standard troy pound weight (fac-slmlle, exact size) .......................................... .
Steel plate portrait of Robert Morris .................. !!........................................... .
" David Rittenhouse ......................................................... .
" Benjamin Rush ............................................................. .
" Elias Boudinot ............................................................... .
" Thomas Jefferson .......................................................... ..
" Alexander Hamilton ..................................................... ..
" John Jay Knox .............................................................. .
Steel plate engraving of the present U.S. Mint at Philadelphia ........................ ..
Strip from which planchets are cut ................................................................... .

21
120
7
101

Ten full page plates of rare Colonial coins (photo reproduction by Levytype
process) .................................................................................................... ..
Ten plates, full pages of rare American coins issued at mint, from 1792 to 1885,
(photo reproduction by the Levytype process) ............................................ ..
Test scales ........................................................................................................ .
'Ft'ansfer lathe ..................................................................................................
Two plates, full pa~es of rare foreign coins (Levytype process) ...........................
Two full page photos or rare Grecian, Roman and Hebrew coins (Levytype
process) ..................................................................................................... .

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93
13
8

116
102
90
92

98
13
31

69-81
69-81
32

36
69-81
69-81

I
•

I

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INTRODUCTION.

MONEY OF THE PAST AND PRESENT.
The need of a circulating medium of exchange has been
:acknowledged since the earliest ages of man. In the primeval
days, bartering was the foundation of commercial intercourse
between the various races ; but this gave way in time, as exchanges increased. In the different ages many commodities
have been made to serve as money, -tin was used in ancient Syracuse and Britain; iron, in Sparta; cattle, in Rome
and Germany ; platinum, in Ru.ssia ; lead, in Burmah ; nails,
in Scotland; silk, in China; cubes of pressed tea, in Tartary; salt, in Abyssinia ; slaves, amongst the Anglo Saxons;
tobacco, in the earliest settlements of Virginia; codfish, in
New Foundland; bullets and wampum, in Ma..,sachusetts;
logwood, in Campeachy; sugar, in the West Indies; and
soap, in Mexico. Money of leather and wood was in circulation in the early days of Rome ; and the natives of Siam,
Bengal, and some parts of Africa used the brillrantly-colored
cowr_y shell to represent value, and some travelers allege that it
is still in use in the remote portions of the last-named country.
But the moneys of all civilized nations have been, for the greater
part, made of gold, silver, copper, and bronze. Shekels of silver
are mentioned in the Bible as having existed in the days of
Abraham, but the metals are believed to have been in bars, from
which proportionate weights were chipped to suit convenience.
The necessity for some convenient medium having an intrinsic
value of its own led to coinage, but the exact date of its introduction is a question history has not yet determined. It is
.supposed the Lydians stamped metal to be used as money twelve
hundred years before Christ, but the oldest coins extant were
made 800 B. C., though it is alleged that the Chinese circulated a square bronze coin as early as 1120 B. C. All of
these coins were rude and shapeless, and generally engraved with
representations of animals, deities, nymphs, and the like; but.
the Greeks issued coins, about 300 B. C., which .were fine
specimens of workmanship, and which are not even surpassed
in boldness and beauty of design by the products of the coiners
-of these modern times. Even while these coins were in circulation spits and skewers were accepted by the Greeks in exehange for products, just as wooden and metal coins were cir-

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INTRODUCTION.
I

culated simultaneously in Rome, 700 B. C., and leather and
metal coins in France, as late as 1360 A. D. The earliest coins
bearing portraits are believed to have been issued about 480
B. C., and these were profiles. In the third century, coins
stamped with Gothic front faces were issued, and after that date
a profusion of coins were brought into the world,as every selfgoverning city issued money of its own. The earliest money
of America was coined of brass, in 1612, and the earliest colonial coins were stamped in Massachusetts, forty years lat.er.
Ancient and extensive as the use of money has been in all its
numerous forms and varied materials, it merely represented a
property value which had been created by manual labor and preserved by the organic action of society. In a primitive state,
herds of cattle and crops of grain were almost the only forms of
wealth; the natural tendency and disposition of men to accumulate riches led them to fix a special value upon the metals, as a
durable and alwaysavailabTe kind of property. When their value
in this way was generally recognized, the taxes and other revenues,
created by kings and other potentates, was collected in part or
wholly in that form of money. The government, to facilitate
public business, stamped the various pieces of metal with their
weight and quality, as they were received at the Treasury; and
according to these stamps and marks, the same pieces were paid
out of the Treasury, and circulated among the people at an authorized and fixed value. The next step was to reduce current
prices of metal to a uniform size, shape, and quality, value and
denomination, and make them, by special enactment, a legal
tender for the payment of all taxes or public dues.
Thus, a legalized currency of coined money was created, and
the exchangeable value of the various metals used for that purpose fully established, to the great convenience of the world at
large.
ANCIENT COINING.

The die for the obverse of the piece to be struck having been
engraved, so as to proper-ly present the religious or national
symbol used for a device and whatever else was to be impressed
upon the coin, was fixed immovably in an anvil or pedestal, face
upwards. The lumps or balls of metal to be coined, having
been made of a fixed and uniform weight and nearly of an
oblate sphere in form, were grasped in a peculiarly constructed
pair of tongs and laid upon the upturned die. A second operative then placed a punch squarely upon the ball of metal;
iieavy blows from a large hammer forced the punch down until
the metal beneath it had been forced into every p'.trt of the die,
and a good impress secured. In the meantime the punch

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INTRODUCTION.

wouhl be imbedded in the lump of metal, and on being withdrawn the reverse of the coin would show a rough depression
corresponding to the shape given the end of the punch, t.hereby
making an uneven surface and disfiguring the piece; punch
marks gradually developed into forms, and these forms combined
with figures wrought into artistic design, until, by degrees, the
punch itself became a die, making the reverse of each piece
upon which it was used equal in every respect to the obverse
of which it was the opposite. This perfection of the reverse
was, however, secured at the expense of the effectiveness of the
punch for its original purpose.
The striking of coin between two dies, which were required to
accurately oppose each other, was an operation requiring great
dexterity, and the results were not at all certain. The artisans
at this stage of the work, hit upon the expedient of using both
the obverse and reverse die in a ring of such a size and depth,
as to be a guide to each of them. The balls or disks of metal
being struck inside the ring, between the dies, were forced to
assume an even thickness, and a circultir form corresponding
with the inside of the ring. After the ring had been used in
this way for some time, it was engraved upon the inside, and
the coins produced were not only circular in shape, but stamped
upon their edges. Thus was produced the perfect coin, and
through the introduction of machinery has secured uniformity·
in the result and saved an immense amount of labor in striking
vast sums of money ; the artistic beauty of some of the antique
specimens has not been surpassed in modern times.
PoR'IBAITURE UPON Corns.

It is said that no human head was ever stamped upon coins
until after the death of Alexander the Great; he being regarded
as somewhat of a divinity, his effigy was impressed upon money,
like that of other gods.
The knowledge of coins and medals, through the inscriptions
and devices thereon, is, to an extent, a history of the world
from that date in which metals were applied to such uses.
Events engraven upon these, remain hidden in tombs or buried
in the bosom of the earth, deposited there in ages long past, by
careful and miserly hands, only awaiting the research of the patient investigator to tell the story of their origin. Numismatic
treasures are scanned as evidence of facts to substantiate statements upon papyrus or stone, and dates are often supplied to define the border line between asserted tradition and positive history. Gibbon remarks: " If there were no other record of
Hadrian, his caree.r would be found written upon the coins of
his reign."

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INTRODUCTION.

The rudeness or perfection of coins and medals furnish testimony of the chll,racter and culture of the periods of their production. This is equally true of that rarest specimen of antiquity,
the Syracusan silver.medal-the oldest known to collectors-and
the latest triumph of the graver's art in gold, the Metis medal.
It is not generally known that the rarest portraits of famous
heroes are found upon coins and medals. The historian, especially the historic artist, is indebted to this source alone for
the portraits of Alexander, Ptolemy, Cleopatra, Mark Antony,
Cresar, and many other celebrities. · Perhaps the valuation of
a rare coin or medal may be estimated by reference to one piece
in the Philadelphia Mint. It is an Egyptian coin as large as
a half-eagle, and has on the obverse the head of the wife of
Ptolemy-Arsinoe-the only portrait of her yet discovered.
INCIDENTS OF HISTORY

Are not alone recorded; and as an example of a very different
nature may be cited the medals commemorating the destruction
of Jerusalem, and the whole series marking that episode, especially those classed " J udrea capta." They tell sad! y of a
people's humiliation: the tied or chained captive; the mocking
goddess of victory, all made more real by reason of the introduction, on the reverse of each piece, of a Jewess weeping
bitterly, and though she sits under a palm-tree, the national
lament of another captivity is forcibly recalled.
An interesting specimen of the series above mentioned was
recently found in the south of France called, "Judrea Navillas," valuable particularly because it strengthens Josephus's
assertion which had provoked some com'ment, viz.: the fact of
the escape of a large number of Jews from the Romans, by
means of ships, at Joppa.
Coins and medals mark the introduction of laws ; for
example, an old Porcian coin gives the date of the " law of
appeal," under which, two centuries and a half later, Paul
appealed to Cresar. Another relic dates the introduction of
the ballot-box ; and a fact interesting to the agriculturist is
established by an old silver coin of Ptolemy, upon which a
man is represented cutting millet (a variety of Indian corn)
with a scythe. Religions have been promulgat.ed by coins.
Islamism says upon a gold coin, "No God but God. Mohammed is the Prophet and God's chosen apostle."
Persian coins, in mystic characters, symbolize the dreadful
sacrifices of the Fire-Worshippers. Henry VIII, with characteristic egotism, upon a medal announces in Hebrew, Greek,
a!ld Latin : " Henry Eighth, King of England, France, and

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INTRODUCTION.

Ireland; Defender of the Faith, and in the land of 'England
and Ireland, under Christ, the Supreme Head of the Church."
COSTUMES ON COINS.

We also find stamped upon coins and medals the costumes
of all ages, from the golden net confining the soft tresses of the
"sorceress of the Nile," and the gemmed robe of Queen Irene,
to the broidered stomacher of Queen Anne, and the stately ruff
of Elizabeth of England.
In this connection may be mentioned the "bonnet piece" of
Scotland, a coin of the reign of James VI., which is extremely
rare, one of them having been sold for £41. The coin received
its name from a representation of the king upon it, with a
c;mriously plaited hat or bonnet which this monarch wore, a
fashion that gave occasion for the ballad, " Blue Bonnets over
the Border."
HERALDIC EMBLEMS

Are faithfully preserved throul!h this medium ; in truth,
medalic honors may be claimed as the very foundation of
heraldic art. We discover medals perpetuating revolutions,
sieges, plots, and murders, etc. We prefer directing at.tention
to the fact that coins and medals are not only the land-marks.
of history, but a favorite medium t>f the poetry of all nations.
Epics are thus preserved by the graver's art in exceedingly
small space. Poets turn with confidence to old coins for symbol
as well as fact.
One of the most graceful historical allusions is conveyed in
the great seal of Queen Anne, after the union of Scotland with
England. A rose and a thistle are growing on one stem, while,
from above, the crown of England sheds effulgence upon the
tender young plant.
HUMOR PICTURED ON MEDALS.

The medal of George I., on the reverse, boastfully presents
a the horse of Brunswick" flying over the northwest of Europe,
symbolizing the Hanoverian succession. The overthrow of the
i. Invincible Armada" was the occasio1. of a Dutch medal,
showing the Hollanders richer in faith than in art culture, for
the obverse of this medal presents the church upon a rock, in
mid-ocean, while the reverse suggests the thought that the
luckless Spanish mariner was driving against the walls of the
actual building.
ARCHITECTURE INDEBTED TO COINS.

Architecture is largely indebted to coins, medals, and seals
for accuracy and data. We learn from the medal of Septimus.

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INTRODUCTION.

Severus the faultless beauty of the triumphal arch erected to
celebrate his victory over Arabs and Parthians. This medal
was produced two centuries before the Christian era, and is a
marvel of art, for its perspective is wrought in bas-relief-an
achievement which was not again attained before the execution
of the celebrated Bronze Gates by Ghiberti, for the Baptistery
at Florence, A. D. 1425. This exhumed arch was excavated
long after its form and structure were familiar to men of letters
through the medals.
LANGUAGE UPON Corns AND MEDALS.
The effect of coin on language is direct, and many words
may be found whose origin was a coin, such· as Daric, a pure
goid coin; Talent, mental ability ; Sterling, genuine, pure ;
while Guinea represents the aristocratic element, and, though
out of circulation long ago, " no one who pretends to gentility
in England would think of subscribing to any charity or fashionable object by contributing the vulgar pound. An extra
shilling added to the pound makes the guinea, and lifts the
subscriber at once into the aristocratic world."
Copper is much preferred to gold for medals. Its firm, unchanging surface accepts and retains finer lines than have yet
been produced upon gold and silver, and it offers no temptation
to be thrown into the crucible.*
In the preparation of this work, I am much in'debted to
several gentlemen connected with the United States Mint;
also, to Messrs. R. Coulton Davis, Ph.G., and E. Locke Mason,
who are acknowledged authority on the subject of numismatics.
If it shall be found useful to the public, and especially to
visitors of the Mint, it will be a source of satisfaction, and more
than repay the labor bestowed in its preparation.
G. G.E.
Philadelphia, July 1, 1885.
• Collectors estimate the loss to numismatography as very great by reason of the temptation the gold possesses for hoarding, and they are possibly the only class of people who
have any apology to offer for the miser. Yet the world is debtor to this despised habit
for some of its most invaluable •pecimens of art, and important corroborative history of
~he old world.

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THE UNITED ST ATES MINT.
THE subject of a National Mint for the United States was
first introduced by Robert Morris,* the patriot and financier
of the revolution; as head of the Finance Department, Mr.
Morris was instructed by Congress to prepare a report on the
foreign coins, then in circulation in the United States. On the
15th of January, 1782, he laid before Congress an exposition of
the whole subject. Accompanying this report was a plan for
American coinage. But it was mainly through his efforts, in
connection with Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton,
that a mint was established in the early history of the Union
of the States. On the 15th of April, 1790, Congress instructed the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton,
to prepare and report a proper plan for the establishment of a
National Mint, and Mr. Hamilton presented his report at the
next session. An act was framed establishing the mint, which
finally passed both Houses and received President Washin~ton's
approval April 2, 1792. t
NOTES ON THE EARLY HISTORY OF TIIE MINT.
FROM ROBERT MORRIS'S DIARY.

1781. July 16th. Wrote to Mr. Dudley at Boston inviting him hither
in consequence of .the Continental Agent Mr. Bradford's Letter respecting
him referred to me by Congress.
July 17th. Wrote Mr. Bradford respecting Mr. Dudley.
Nov. 10th. Ordered some money on application of Mr. Dudley to pay
his expences.
Nov. 12th. Sent for Mr Dudley to consult him respecting the quantity
of Alloy Silver will bear without being discoloured, he says he can put 6
drops into an ounce. Desired him to assay some Spanish Dollars and
French Crowns, in order to know the quantity of pure Silver in each.
Nov. 16th. Mr. Dudley assayed a number of Crowns and dollars for our
inform~.tion respecting the Mint.
1782. Jan. 2d. .Mr. Benjamin Dudley applied for money to pay his
Board which I directed to be paid by Mr. Swanwick, this gentleman is detained at the public expence "s a person absolutely necessary in the Mint,
which I hope soon to see established. My propositions on that subject are
to be submitted to Congress so soon as I can get the proper assays made on
Silver coins &c.
• Robert Morris was born in England, and came to America when he was thirteen
years old, (Sparks' life of Governeur Morris.)
t During the Confederatlon the different States had the unquestioned right to coin
money, but only according to the standard of fineness, weight, and value, prescribed
by the central government.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

Jan. 7th. Mr. Dudley applies about' getting his wife from England. I
promised him every assi~tance in my power.*
Jan. 18th. I went to Mr. Gouvr Morris's Lodging to examine the plan
we had agreed on, and which we had drawn up respecting the Establishment of a Mint, we made some alterations and amendments to my satisfaction and from a belief that this is a necessary and salutary measure. I
have ordered it copiec! to be ~ent into Congress.
Jan. 26th. Mr. Dudley applied for monPy to pay his Lodgings &c. I
ordered Mr. Swanwick to supply him with fifty dollars, informed him that.
the Plan of a Mint is before Congress, and when passed, that he shall be
directly employed, if not agreed to by Congress, I shall compensate him
for his time &c.
Feb. 26th. Mr. Benjamin Dudley brought me the rough drafts or plan
for the rooms of a Mint &c. I desired him to go to Mr. Whitehead Humphreys to consult him about Screws, Smith work &c. that will be wanted forthe Mint, and to bring me a list thereof with an estimate of the C~t.
Feb 28th. Mr. Dudley informs me that a Mr. Wheeler, a Smith in the
Country, can make the Screws, Rollers &c. for the Mint. Mr. Dudley proposes the Dutch Church, that which is now unoccupied, as a place suitable
for the Mint, I sent him to view it, & he returns satisfied that 1t will answer,
wherefore I mmt enquire about it.
March 22d. Mr. Dudley and Mr. Wheeler came and brought with them
some Models of the Screws and Rollers necessary for the Mint. I found
Mr. Wheeler entertained some doubts respecting one of these Machines
which Mr. Dudley insists will answer the purposes and says he will be
responsible for it. I agreed with Mr. Wheeler that he should perform the
work; and, as neither he or I could judge of the value that ought to bepaid for it, he is to perform the ~ame agreeable to Mr. Dudley's directions,
and when finished, we are to have it valued by some Honest Man, judges
of such work, he mentioned Philip Syng, F..dwd. Duffield, William Rush
and---all of whom I believe are good judges and very honest men,
therefore I readily agreed to this proposition. And I desired Mr. Dudley
to consult Mr. Rittenhouse and Francis Hopkinson Esquire, as to the
Machine or Wheel in dispute, and let me have their opinion.
March 23d. Mr. Dudley called to inform me that Mr. Rittenhouse &.
Mr. Hopkinson agree to his plan of the Machine &c.
April 12th. Mr. Dudley wants a horse to go up to Mr. Wheelers &c.
• The f0Jlowing, from the Morris Papers, serve to illustrate this subject:
"1.-RoBT, MORRIS TO RICHARD YATES.

"PHILAD'A, Jan. 23, 1782.

"SIR

"At

the request of a very honest Man who seems much distressed for the welfare ot
"his wife, now In London, I beg to trouble you with the enclosed Letter, praying that
"you will forward it, and if in consequence thereof Mrs. Dudley should come to New
"York, I beg of you to p•ocure Liberty for her to come to her Husband at this place.
"The money for her Passage and reasonable expenses in New York, which must be
"reasonable as possible, she may draw upon her Husband, Mr. Benjamin Dudley, and
"I engage that the Draft shall be paid. I shall thank you for your attention to th!$
'"poor Lady when she arrives, and remain Sir,
"your most obedient and
'· humble servant
" H.OHERT MORRIS."

"2.-ROBT. MORRIS TO THR COHKISSARY GENERAL OF PRISONERS.

"PHILAD'A, Jan. 23, 1782.
"SIR

•·r'send herewith an open letter for Mr. Richard Yates containiug one for Mrs. Dud" ley in London, from her Husband now here. I wish these may be safely delivered to
"Mr. Yates, ana therefore pray you to send them into New York, by some person thai
"will not only promise, but perform the delivery of them. .I am Sir,
"your most obedient and
"humble servant
"RoBERT MORRI&.'1

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

May 20th. Mr. Dudley wrote me a Letter this day and wanted money.
I directed Mr. Swanwick to supply him, and then disired him to view the
Mason's Lodge to see if it would Answer for a Mint, which he thinks it
will, I desired him to go up to Mr. Wheelers to see how he goes on with
the Rollers &c.
June 17th. Mr. Dudley applif1 for money to pay his Bill. I directed
Mr. 8wanwick to supply him.
June 18th. Issued a warrant in favor of B. Dudley .£7.11.6.
July 15th. Mr. B. IJudley applied for money, he is very uneasy for want
of employment, and the Mint in which he is to be employed and for
which I have engaged him, goes on so slowly that I am also uneasy at
having this gentleman on pay and no work for him. He offered to go and
assist Mr. Byers to establish the Brass Cannon Foundry at Springfield. I
advised to make that proposal to Genl. Lincoln and inform me the result
to-morrow.*
July 16th. Mr. B. Dudley to whom I gave an order on Mr. Swanwick
for fifty dollars, and desired him to seek after Mr. Wheeler to know whether
the Rollers &c. are ready for him to go to work on rolling the copper for
the Mint.
August 22d. Mr. Sarni. Wheeler who made the Rollers for the Mint,
applies for money. I had a good deal of conversation with this ingenious
gentleman.
August 26th. Mr. Dudley called and pressed very much to be set at work.
Sept 3d. Mr. B. Dudley applied for a passa~e for his Friend Mr.
Sprague, pr. the Washington to France & for Mrs. Dudley back. Mr.
Wheeler applied for money which I promised in a short time.
Sept. 4th. Mr. Wheeler for money. I desired him to leave his claim
with Mr. McCall Secretary in this office, and I will enable the discharge
of his notes in the Bank when due.
·
Novr. 8th. Mr. Dudley applies for the amount of his Bill for Lodgings
and Diet &c. and I directed Mr. Swanwick to pay him, but am very uneasy
that the Mint is not going on.
Dec. 23d. Mr. Dudley and Mr. Wilcox brought the subsistance paper,
and I desired Mr. Dudley to deliver 4000 sheets to Hall and Sellers.t
• This letter will illustrate this subject:
ROBERT MORRIii TO THE REV. WILLIAM GORDON, D. D.
[From the Morris Papers.]
" Sta,
" PHILAD' A 25t '1 July, 1782.
"In consequence of your Letter of the nineteenth of June, I sent for Mr. Dudley,
11
told him the information you had so kindly given to me, and assured him of my desire
"to make him easy and happy. The business in which he is intended to be employed,
"Is like many other important matters, retarded by the tediousness of the States in
usupplying the Continental Treasury.
"The Hon'ble Secretary at War has commenced a correspondence with General Gates
"at my request, which I think, will produce what he wishes. Be assured that I take
"particular pleasure in promoting the interest and happiness of worthy men, and that
"I am with great esteem Sir,
u your most obedient
"and humble Servant,

t This letter will illustrate th.is matter:

"RoBERT MORRIS.'"

ROBERT lllORRIS TO BENJAMIN DUDLEY.
(From the Morris Papers.]
' S1R
:
''OFFICE OF FINANCE, 29 Novr., 1782'.
'·You will herewith receive the Form for making a particular kind of Paper-YoQ
"are to proceed to the Paper lllill of Jllr. Mark Wilcox, in Ash Town Chester County
"who has the Stuff prepared, and there to superintend the making of sundry reams of
11
Paper upon this Form-in doing of which you are to be particularly careful not tou leave it in the power of any person or persons to make any paper upon this Form
0
without your immediate Inspection.
"You are to attend the Workmen constantly whilst they are at work, and when you,
"retire from the lllill upon any occasion. you are to take the Form with you. You are
"to ,count the Paper as it is made sheet by sheet and when you have finished the whole.
"you are to bring it to me together with the Form. I am Sir,
"Your most obedient servant,
11
ROBERT MORIUs.''
1

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

Deer. 26th. Mr. Hall the printer brought 100 Sheeta of the subsistence
notes this day, and desired that more paper might be sent to his Printing
Office, accordingly I sent for Mr. Dudley and desired him to deliver the
same from time to time, until the whole shall amount to 4000 Sheets.
1783. April 2d. I sent for Mr. Dudley who delivered me a J?iece of
Silver Coin, being the first that has been struck as an American Com.
April 16th. Sent for Mr. Dudley and· urged him to produce the Coins
to lay before Congress to establish a Mint.
April 17th. Sent for Mr. Dudley to urge the preparing of Coins &c for
Establishing a Mint.
April 22d. Mr. Dudley sent in several Pieces of Money as patterns of
the intended American Coins.
May 6th. Sent for Mr. Dudley and desired him to go down to Mr. Mark
Wilcox's, to see 15,Q00 Sheets of paper made fit to print my Notes on.
May 7th. This day delivered Mr. Dudley the paper Mold for making
:paper, mark'd United States, and dispatched him to Mr. Wilcok's, but was
-obliged to advance him 20 dollars.
May 27th. I sent for Mr. Dudley to know if he has compleated the paper
cat Mr. Wilcock's paper mill for the Certificates intended for the pay of the
Army. He says it is made, but not yet sufficiently dry for the printers use.
I desired him to repair down to the Mill and bring it up as soon as possible,
May 28th. Mr. Whitehead Humphreys to offer his lot and buildings for
erecting a Mint.
July 5th. Mr. Benjn. Dudley gave notice that he has received back
from Messrs. Hall and Sellers the Printers, three thousand sheets of the
last paper made by Mr. Wi\cocks. I desired him to bring it to this office.
He also informs of a Minting Press being in New York for sale, and urges
me to purchase it for the use of the American Mint.
July 7th. Mr. Dudley respecting the Minting Press, bnt I had not
time to see him.
August 19th. I sent for Mr. Benjamin Dudley, and informed him of
my doubts about the establishment of a Mint, and desired him to think of
some employment in private service, in which I am willing to assist him
all in my power. I told him to make out an account for the services he
had performed for the public, and submit at the Treasury office for inspection and settlement.
August 30th. Mr. Dudley brought the dies for Coining in the American
Mint.
Sept. 3d. Mr. Dudley applies for money for his expenses which I agree
to supply, but urge his going into private business.
Sept. 4th. Mr. Dudley for money, which is granted. Directed him to
make three models for constructing Dry--N ov. 21st. Mr. Dudley applies for money. He says he was at half a
guinea a week and his expenses borne when he left Boston to come about the
Mint, and he thinks the public ought to make that good to him. I desired
him to write me and I will state his claims to Congress.
Nov. 26th. Mr. Dudley for money, which was granted.
Dec. 17th. Mr. Dudley with his account for final settlement. I referred him to Mr. Milligan.
1784. Jan. 5th. Mr. Dudley applies for a Certificate of the Time
which he was detained in the public service. I granted him one accordingly.
Jan. 7th. Mr. Dudley after the settlement of his account, which I compleated by signing a warrant.

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[Fae simile of original, photo-engraved by Levytype Company.]

Congrefs of the United St~tes:
AT THE THIRD SESSION,

Begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, on
Monday the fnth of December, one tbPufand feven hundred and ninety.

R

ESOLVED oy the SENATB and HousE of REPRESENTATIVES of
. the United States of America in Congrefs qffembled, That a Jillnt
1hall be eftablifhed under fuchregulations as :fhallbe directed by law.

R.efal"'ea, That the P.refident of the United States be, and he is
hereby authorized. to caofe to be engaged, fuch principal attifts as
1ha11 be neceffary to carry the preceeding refolution into effea, and to
ilipulatethe terms and conditions of their fervice, and alfo to caufe to
be procuredfuch apparatus as fhall be requifite for the fame purpofe.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG,
Speaker of the Holffe of Reprifentnli-ve1.

JOHN ADAMS, Vice-Prefidenl ofthe United States.,
arzd Pryident of the Senate,.
.APPllOV.ED,

March the third, 1791.

GEORGE WASHINGTON, Preftdent of the United State,.

DEPOSITED among the RoLLS in the Ontc.E of the SECllETAllY
(?f STATE.

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ILLU,TRATED HISTORY OF

ThejollOIJJing i,a a copy of an old pay roll, framed and hanging upon the VJall
tM Cabinet.

<d

NAMES AND SALARIES' OF THE OFFICERS, CLERKS, AND WORKMEN
EMPLOYED AT THE MINT THE 10th OcTOilER, 1795.
Henry Wm. DeSaussure, Director ........................ (ii
Nicholas Way, Treasurer ................................... ··
Henry Voigt, Chief Coiner................................
Albion Cox, Assayer..........................................
Robert Scott, Engraver......................................
David Ott, Melter and Refiner pro tern.......... ......
Nathaniel Thomas, Clerk to the Treasurer............
lsaac Hough, ditto to Director and Assayer............
Lodewyk Sharp, ditto to Chief Coiner..................
John 8. Gardiner, Assistant Engraver..................
Adam Eckfeldt, Die Forger and Turner...............

2,000 Drs. per Ann.
1 200 •·
"
1'500 ''
"
1' 500 "
"
1'200 "
"
1'200 "
"
'700 "
"
500 "
"
500 "
"
936 "
"
500 "
"

Workmen Employed in Chief Coiner's Department.
Wages per day. Doll. (.,'ts.

John Schreiner, Chief Pressman .............................................
John Cope, Chief Adjuster .....................................................
William Hayley, Roller, ........................................................
Nicholas Sinderling, Annealer ...............................................
John WaFd, Miller ...............................................................
Joseph Germon, Drawer........................................................
Lewis Laurenger, Brusher......................................................
Henry Voigt, Junr, Adjuster......................................... :........
Sarah Waldrake, ditto...........................................................
Rac~ael .S~mme~ ditto.........................................................
Lewis B1ttmg, ditto ...............................................................
Lawrence Ford, ditto.............................................................
Christopher Baum, Pressman..................................................
John Keyser, ditto ................................................................
Frederick Banek, ditto ...........................................................
Barney Miers, Cleaner...........................................................
Martin Summers, Doorkeeper... ... .. .. . . .. . .. . .. .. . ... ... .. ..... ... .. . .. .. .
Adam Seyfert, Hostler ........................................ , ..................
John Bay, Boy.....................................................................

1
1
1
1
1
1
1

80
60
40
40
20
20
20
88
50
50
1 20
1 20
1
1
1
1
1
1
66

Workmen Employed at the Furnace of the Mint.
Peter LaChase, Melter ...........................................................
George Myers, ditto ...... : .......................................................
Eberhart Kl um back, ditto......................................................
Patrick Ryan, Filer...............................................................
Valentine Flegler, Labourer ...................................................
Andrew Brunet, ditto.............................................................
William Ryan, ditto.............................................................

1
1
1
1
1
1
1

60
50
40
25
25

Endorsed jn two places, ''Names and Salaries of the Officers, Clerka and
Workmen employed in the Mint the 10th Oct. 1795."

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'!J. S. M KN 'I!'
PMJL A t> Etl •MIA

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13

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

THE PHILADELPHIA MINT.
THE popular estimation in which the Mint is held in the
United States, is, for obvious reasons, more distinctively
marked than that entertained for other public institutions.
Its position, in a financial point of view, is so important, its use
so apparent, and its integrity of management so generally conceded, that it enjoys a. pre-eminence and dignity beyond that
accorded to general governmental departments. Party muta-

THE FIRST MINT IN THE UNITED STATES, ERECTED IN

li92.

tions usually effect changes in its directorship, with but slight
interference, however, with the other officials, as those of attainments, skill, and long experience in the professional
branches, required to intelligently perform the various duties
assigned, are few in all countries. Those occupying positions
are chosen for their proficiency in the various departments,
their characters being always above question. The confidence
reposed in the officials of the United States Mint has never
been violated, as, for nearly a century of its operations, no

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14

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

shadow of suspicion has marred the fair name of any identified
with its history.
The need of a mint in the Colonies was keenly felt to be a.
serious grievance against England for years before the Revolution, and as soon as practicable after the establishment of Independence, the United States Mint was authorized by an Act
of Congress-April 2, 1792,
A lot of ground was purchased on Seventh Street near
Arch, and appropriations were made for erecting the requisite
buildings. An old still-house, which stood on the lot, had
first to be removed. In an account book of that time we find
an entry on the 31st of July, 1792, of the sale of some old
materials of the still-house for seven shillings and sixpence,
which '' Mr. Rittenhouse directed should be laid out for punch
in laying the foundation stone."*
The first building erected in the United States for public
use, under the authority of the Federal Government, was a.
structure for the United States Mint. This was a plain brick
edifice, on the east side of Seventh street, near Arch, the
corner-stone of which was laid by David Rittenhouse, Director
of the Mint, on July 31, 1792. In the following October
operations of coining commenced. It was occupied for about
forty years. On the 19th of May, 1829, an Act was passed by
Congress locating the United States Mint on its present site.
The first coinage of the United States, was silver half-dimes
in October, 1792, of which Washington makes mention in his
address to Congress, on November 6, 1792, as follows : " There
has been a small beginning in the coinage of half-dimes ; the
want of small coins in circulation, calling the first attention to
them." The first metal purchased for coinage was six pounds
of old copper at one shilling and three pence per pound, which
was coined and delivered to the Treasurer, in 1793. The first
deposit of silver bullion was made on July 18, 1794, by the Bank
of Maryland. It consisted of" coins of France," amounting
to $80,715.7 3½. The first returns of silver coins to the Treasurer, was made on October 15, 1794. The first deposit of gold
bullion for coinage, was made by Moses Brown, merchant, of
Boston, on February 12, 1795; it was of gold ingots, worth
$2,276.72, which was paid for in silver coins.
The first return of gold coinage, was on July 31, 1795, and
consisted of 744 half.eagles. The first delivery of eagles was
in September 22, same year, and consisted of four hundred
pieces,
*The building is still standing (1885), in the rear of Nos 37 and 39 North Seventh
street, and is occupied as a carpenter shop.

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15

THE UNIT.EI) STATES MINT.

Previous to the coinage of silver dollars, at the Philadelphia
Mint, in 1794, the following amusing incidents occurred in
Congress, while the emblems and devices proposed for the
reverse field of that coin were being discussed.
A member of the House from the South bitterly opposed
the choice of the eagle, on the ground of its being the "king
of birds," and hence neither proper nor suitable to represent
a nation whose institutions and interests were wholly inimical
to monarchical forms of government. Judge Thatcher playfully, in reply, suggested that perhaps a goose might suit the
gentleman, as it was a rather humble and republican bird, and
would also be serviceable in other respects, as the goslings
would answer to place upon the dimes. This answer created
considerable merriment, and the irate Southerner, conceiving
the humorous rejoinder as an insult, sent a challenge to the
Judge, who promptly declined it. The bearer, rather astonished, asked, "Will you be branded as a coward?" "Certainly, if he pleases," replied Thatcher; "I always was one
and he knew it, or he would never have risked a challenge."
The at.air occasioned much mirth, and, in due time, former existing cordial relations were restored between the parties; the
irritable Southerner concluding there was nothing to be gained
in fighting with one who fired nothing but jokes.
EXTRACT 1.<'ROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED
FOR THE MINT, JANUARY 1, 1825.
The operations of the Mint throughout the year, are to commence at 5
o'clock m the morning, under the superintendence of an.officer, and continue until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, except on Saturdays, when the business of the day will close at 2 o'clock, unless on special occasions it may
be otherwise directed by an officer. Extra work will be paid for in proportion, on a statement being made of it through the proper officer, at the
end of each month. A strict account is to be kept by one of the officers,
as they may agree of the absentees from duty, if the absence be voluntary,
the full wages for the time will be deducted, if it arise from sickness a
deduction will be made at the discretion of the proper officer. A statement of these deductions will be rendered at the end of the month, and
the several accounts made out accordingly.
The allowance under the name of drink money is hereafter to be discontinued, and in place of it three dollars extra wages per month will be allowed
for the three summer months to th0se workmen who continue in the Mint
through that season. No workman can be permitted to bring spirituous
liquors into the Mint. Any workman who shall be found intoxicated
within the Mint must be reported to the Director, in order that he may be
discharged. No profane or indecent language can be tolerated in the
Mint. Smoking within the Mint is inadmissible. The practice is of dangerous tendency; experience proves that this indulgence in public institutions, ends at last in disaster. Visitors may be admitted by permission of
an officer, to see the various operations of the Mint on all working days
except Saturdays and rainy days; they are to be attended by an officer, or
some person designated by him. The new coins must not be given in

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

exchange for others to accommodate visitors, without the consent of the
Chief Coiner. Christmas day and the Fourth of July, and no other days,
are established holidays at the Mint. The pressmen will carefully lock
the several coining presses when the work for the day is finished, and
leave the keys in such places as the Chief Coiner shall designate. When
light is necessary to be carried from one part of the l\Iint to the other, the
watchman will use a dark Janthorn but not an open candle. He will keep
in a proper arm chest securely locked, a musket and bayonet, two pistols
and a sword. The arms are to be kept in perfect order and to be inspected
by an officer once a month, when the arms are to be discharged and
charged anew.
The watchman of the Mint must attend from 6 o'clock in the evening to
6 o'clock in the morning, and until relieved by the permission of an otlicer,
or until the arrival of the door-keeper. He will ring the yard bell precisely every hour by the Mint clock, from 10 o'clock until relieved by the
door-k_eeper, or an officer, or the workmen on working day•, and will send
the watch dog through the yard immediately after ringing the bell. He
will particularly examine the departments of the engine and all the rooms
where fire has been on the preceding day, conformably to his secret
instructions. For this purpose he will have keys of access to such rooms
as he cannot examine without entering them.
If an attempt be made on the Mint he will act conformably to his secret
in5trnctions on that sul~ject. In case of fire occurring in or near the
Mint, he will ring the Alarm Bell if one has been provided, or sound the
alarm with his rattle, and thus as soon as possible bring some one to him
who can be dispatched to call an officer, and in other particulars will
follow his Recret instructions. The secret instructions given him from
time to time he must be careful not to disclose. The delicate trust reposed in all persons employed in the Mint, presupposes that their character is free from all suspicion, but the director feels it his duty neverthe,
less, in order that none may plead ignorance ou the suliject, to warn th<:'m
of the danger of violating so high a trust. Such a crime as the embezzlement of any of the coins struck at the Mint, or of any of the metals
brought to the Mint for coinage, would be punished under the laws of
Pennsylvania, by a fine and penitentiary imprisonment at hard labor.
The punishment annexed to this crime by the laws of the rnited !'hates,
enacted for the special protection of deposits made at the Mint, is DEATH.
The 1\Jth Section of the Act of Congress, establishing the Mint, passed
April 12, 1792, is in the following words: Section 19, and be it further
enacted, That if any of the gold or silver coins, which shall be struck or
coined at the said Mint, shall be debased or made worse as to the proportion of fine gold or fine silver, therein contained, or shall be of less weight
or value than the same ought to be; pursuant to the directions of this act,
through the default or with the connivance of any of the officers or persons who shall be employed at said Mint, for the purpose of profit or gain,
or otherwise, with a fraudulent intent, and if any of the said officers or
persons shall embezzle any of the metal whieh shall at any time be committed to their charge, for the purpose of being coined, or any of the coins
which shall be struck or coined at the said Mint, every such officer or
person who shall commit any or either of the said offences, shall be
deemed guilty of F<:'lony, and shall suffer death. Printed copies of the
Rules here recited are to be kept in convenient places for the inspection of
the workmen, but as all may not be capable of reading them, it shall be
the duty of the proper officer of the several departments, or such person
as he may appoint, to read them in the hearing of the workmen, at least
once a year, and especially to read them to every person newly employed
in the Mint.
SAMUEL MOORE,
Director.

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17

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

Up to 1836 the work at the Mint was done entirely by hand
-or horse power. In that year steam was introduced. At different periods during the years 1797, 1798, 1799, 1802, and
1803, the operations of the Mint were suspended on account
· -of the prevalence of yellow fever.
"BOND OF INDEMNITY OR AGREEMENT of Operatives to return to the
-service of the Mint." Dated August, 1799.
"We, the subscribers, do hereby promise and engage to return to the service of the Mint as soon as the same shall be again opened, after the prevailing fever is over, on the penalty of twenty pounds."
'' As witn~ss our hands this 31st day of August, 1799.
"GEORGE WATT'N,.
GEORGE MYERS,
JOHN COPE,
CHARLES BENJ. K - - ,
LEWIS BITTING,
GEORGE BAILY,
GEO. BOEMING,
JOHN MANN,
JAMES ANDERSON,
(In German) .JOHANNES--,
JOHN SCHREINER,
SA.ML. THOMPSON,
JOHN _BIRNBAUM,
MARTIN SUMMERS."
The above are the signatures of the parties agreeing, written on old handmade unruled foolscap paper.
This is part of the Mint records, which has been framed for convenience
and µrotection. It hangs in the Cabinet.
THE MINT ESTABLISHED.

The Mint was established by Act of Congress the second of
April, 1792, and a few half-dimes were issued towards the close
of that year. The general operations of the institution commenced in 1793. The coinage effected from the commencement
of the establishment to the end of the year 1800 may be stated
in round numbers at $2,534,000; the coinage of the decade
endirig 1810 amounted to $6,971,000, and within the ten years
ending with 1820-$9,328,000. The amount within the ten
years ending with 1830 is stated at $18,000,000, and the
whole coinage from the commencement of the institution at
$37,000,000. On the second of March, 1829, provisions were
made by Congress for extending the Mint establishment, the
supply of bullion for coinage having increased beyond the
-capacity of the existing accommodations .. The Mint edifice,
-erected under this provision, stands on a lot purchased for the
-object at the northwest corner of Chestnut and Juniper streets,
fronting 150 feet on Chestnut street and extending 204 feet to
Penn Square, (the central and formerly the largest public
square in the city). 1'he corner-stone of the new edifice was
. laid on the fourth of July, 1829; the building is of marble and
of the Grecian style of architecture, the roof being covered with
copper. It presents on "Chestnut street and Penn Square a
front of 123 feet, each front being ornamented with a portico

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18

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

of 60 feet, containing six Ionic columns. In the centre of the
structure there was formerly a court-yard (now built up) extend•
ing 85 by 84 feet, surrounded by a piazza to each story, affording an easy access to all parts of the edifice. Present officers of
the Mint: Hon. Daniel M. Fox, Superintendent; William S.
Steel, Coiner; Jacob B. Eckfeldt, Assayer; Patterson Du Bois,
Assistant Assayer, James C. Booth, Melter and Refiner; N.
B. Boyd, Assistant Melter and Refiner; Charles E. Barber,
Engraver; George T. Morgan and William H. Key, Assistant
Engravers; M. H. Cobb, Cashier; George W. Brown, Doorkeeper.
On July 4, 1829, Samuel Moore, then Director, laid the
corner stone of the present building, located at the northwest
corner of Chestnut and Juniper streets. It is of white marble,
and of the Grecian style of architecture, and was finished, and
commenced operations, in 1833. Subsequent to that date
necessary changes in the interior arrangements, to accommodate
the increase in business, have been introduced at various times,
and it was made more secure as a depository for the great
amount of bullion contained within its vaults, by having been
rendered fire-proof in 1856.
COPY OF THE

p APER LAID IN THE CORNER
MINT, JULY 4, 1829.

STONE OF THH

This corner stone of the Mint of the United States of
America, laid on the 4th day of July, 1829, beiug the fiftythird anniversary of our independence, in the presence of the
Officers thereof, Members of Congress of the adjacent districts,
architect, and artificers employed in the building, and a
number of citizens of Philadelphia, in the which with this instrument are deposited specimens of the Coins of our Country
struck in the present year. The Mint of the United States
commenced operations in the year A. D., 1793, increasing
constantly in utility, until its locality and convenience required
extension and enlargement, which was ordered by the passage
of a bill appropriating $120,000 for the erection of new and
convenient buildings, to accommodate its operations, vesting
the disbursement in the judgment and taste of the Director and
President of the United States. In pursuance of the above bill,
passed during the Presidency of John Quincy Adams, arrangements were made and designs adopted; William Strickland
appointed architect; John Struthers, marble mason; Daniel
Groves, bricklayer; Robert O'Neil, master carpenter, and in
the first year of the Presidency of Andrew Jackson, this cornerstone was placed in southeast corner of the edifice.

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19

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

The names of the officers of the Mint of the United States
at this time, are as follows :
DocTOR SAMUEL MooRE, Director,
ADAM EcKFELDT, Coiner,
JOSEPH CLOUD, Melter and Refiner,
JOSEPH RICHARDSON, Assayer,
DOCTOR JAMES RusH, Treasurer,
WM. KNEASS, Engraver,
GEORGE EHRENZELDER, Clerk.
MINT OF THE UNITED STATES,

Philadelphia, March 20, 1838.
To HoN. LEVI WooDBURY,
Secretary of the Treasury.

Sir :-I had the honor to receive your letter asking my
attention to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
United States, passed March 5, 1838, as follows :
EXTRACT FROM RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS RELATING TO MINT.

" Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury report to
this House the cost of erecting the principal Mint and its
branches, including buildings, fixtures, and apparatus; the
salaries and expenses of the different officers; the amount expended in the purchase of bullion; the loss arising from wastage, and all other expenses; and the average length of time it
·requires to coin at the principal Mint all the bullion with which
it can be furnished; and further, what amount of coin has been
struck at the several branch mints, since their organization."
MINT OF THE UNITED STATES, PHILADELPHIA.
The cost of the edifice, machinery, and fixtures, was...
Ground, enclosure, paving, etc................................

$173,390
35,840

Total cost of buildings, etc.................. ,.........

$'.!09,230

This amount does not include expenditures made under special appropriations for the years 1836 and 1837, for milling
and coining by steam power; and for extensive improvements
in the assaying, melting, and parting rooms, and machine shops,
amounting to $28,270. ·
It may be proper to mention that the Mint building is on
the best street in the city, is of large dimensions, with the
whole exterior of marble, and two Ionic porticos; and that the
machinery and apparatus are of the best construction. The
cost must therefore be considered as very moderate. The new
Mint lately erected by the British India Government at Calcutta, cost 24 lacs of rupees, or about $1,138,000.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

"The Director receives per annum .................................... .
Treasurer ...••......... : ............................................... .
Chief Coiner .......................................................... .
Assayer ................................................................ .
Melter and Refiner ................................................. .
Engraver .............................................................. .
Second Engraver .................................................... .
Assistant Assayer................................................... .
Treasurer's Clerk.................................................. ..
Bookkeeper.............................................. . ............ .
Clerk of the weighing room ...................................... .
Director's Clerk .................................................... .
Total for salaries ........................................ .

$3,500
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
1,500
1,300
1,200
1,000
1,200
700
$20,400

No expenses are allowe<l, beyond the above sums, to any
-officer, assistant, or clerk, for the performance of his duties.
As all the gold and silver brought to the l\Iint is purchased
-at the nett Mint price, there is no expense, properly so called,
incurred on this account.
R. M. PATTERSON,
IJirector of tlte Mint.
Previous to the passage of the law by the Federal government
for regulating the coins of the U nite<l States, much perplexity
arose from the use of no less than four different currencies or
rates, at which one species of coin was recoined, in the different
parts of the Union. Thus, in New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Virginia and Kentucky, the dollar was recoined at six shillings; in New York
and North Carolina at eight shillings; in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland at seven shillings and six pence; in
Georgia and South Carolina at four shillings and eight pence.
The subject had engaged the attention of the Congress of the old
-confederation, an~l the present system of the coins is formed
upon the principles laid down in their resolution of 1786, by
which the denominations of money of account were required to
be dollars (the dollar being the unit), dismes or tenths, cents or
hundredths, and mills or thousandths of a dollar. Nothing can
be more simple or convenient than this decimal subdivision.
The terms are proper because they express the proportions
which they are intended to designate. The dollar was wisely
-chosen, as it corresponded with the Spanish coin, with which
we had been long familiar.
VISITING THE MINT.

The Mint, on Chestnut street near Broad, is open to the public daily, excepting Sundays and holidays, from 9 to 12 A. M.
Visitors are met by the courteous ushers, who attend them through

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

the various departments. It is estimated that over forty thousand
persons have visited the institution in the course of a singie year.
Owing to the immense amount of the precious metals which is.
always in course of transition, and the watchful care necessary
to a correct transaction of business, the public are necessarily
excluded from some of the departments. These, however, are
of but little interest to the many and are described under their ·
proper heads. The system adopted in the Mint is so precise and
the weighing so accurate, that the abstraction of the smallest
particle of metal would lead to almost immediate detection.
On entering the rotunda, the offices of the Treasurer and
Cashier are to the right and left. Farther in, in the hall, to
the rear, on the right, is the room.of the Treasurer's clerks;
a part of this was formerly used by the Adams Express
Company, who transport to and from the Mint millions of
dollars worth of metal, coin, etc.
THE DEPOSIT OR WEIGHING-ROOM.

On the left is the Deposit or Weighing-room, where all thegold and silver for coining is received and first weighed. The
largest weight used in this room is five hundred ounces, the

SCALES.

smallest, is the thousandth part of an ounce. The scales arewonderfully delicate, and are examined and adjusted on alternate days. On the right of this room is one of the twelve•

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

vaults in the building. Of solid masonry, several of them are
iron-lined, with double doors of the same metal and most complicated a.nd burglar-proof locks.
It is estimated that about fifteen hundred million dollars
worth of gold has been received and weighed in this .room ;
probably nine-tenths of this amount was from California, since
its discovery there in the year 1848. Previous to that time
the supplies of gold came principally from Virginia, North
Carolina, and Georgia. During the past ten years considerable
quantities have been received from Nova Scotia, but most of

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING SCALES.

the gold that reaches the Mint, at the present time, comes
from California1 Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona,
Oregon, Dakota, Virginia, South Carolina, and New Mexico.
Formerly the silver used by the Mint came principally from
Mexico and South America, but since the discovery of the
immense veins of that metal in the territories of the United
States the supply is furnished from the great West.
The copper used comes principally from the mines of Lake
Superior, the finest from1\iinnesota. The nickel is chiefly from
Lancaster County, Pa.

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23

THE UNITED STATES MINT.
THE DEPOSIT MELTING RooM.

After the metal h!IB been carefully weighed in the presence
of the depositor and the proper officials, it is locked in iron
boxes and taken to the melting room, where it is opened by
two men, each. provided with a key to one of the separate
locks. There are four furnaces in this room, and the first
process of melting takes place here. The gold and silver,
being mixed with borax and other fluxing material, is placed in
pots, melted and placed in iron moulds, and when cooled is
again taken to the deposit room in bars, where it is reweighed,
and a small piece cut from each lot by the Assayer. From
this the fineness of the whole is ascertained, the value calculated, and the depositor paid. The metal in its rough state is
then transferred to the Melter and Refiner.
OFFICE OF THE MELTER AND REFINER.

Adjoining the Deposit Melting Room are the Melter and
Refiner and assistants. This is the general business office of
the head of this department, and is also used for weighing the
necessary quantities of the metals used in alloying coin.
THE PROCESS OF ASSAY.

The two essential things regarding every piece of metal
offered in payment of any dues were, first, the weight or quantity, next, the foneness or purity of the same. The process of
weighing even the baser metals used in coining must be conducted by the careful use of accurate scales, with precise notes
of the results. In precious metals, gold, silver, and their high
grade alloys, a very small variation in the fineness makes a
great difference in the value. Nothing is more essential than
the accurate determination of the weight of the sample and of
the metal obtained from it. It requires keen sight and most
delicate adjustment in the hand which manipulates the Lilliputian scales of an Assayer's table. The smallest weight used
in the Mint is found in the Assay Room ; it is the thirteenhundredth part of a grain, and can scarcely be seen with the
/ naked eye, unless on a white ground. The Assay Department
is strictly a technical and scientific branch of the service. It
has been practically under one regime, for the last fifty years.
There have been but three Chief Assayers in that time, the
only removals being by death, the only appointments by promotion. Its workmen are all picked men, selected from other
parts of the Mint for special fitness and good character.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF
THE ASSAYING ROOMS.

These are on the second floor, in the southwest corner of
the building. In one of these are fires, stills, and other appliances used in the delicate and complicated process of assay,.
by which the specific standard of the fineness and purity of
the various metals are established and declared.
I

ASSAYING GOLD.

The gold is melted down and stirred, by which a complete mixture is effected, so that an assay piece may betaken from any part of the bar after it is cast. The piece
taken for this purpose is rolled out for the convenience of
cutting. It is then taken to an assay balance (sensible to theten-thousandth of a half gramme or less), and from it is
weighed a half gramme, which is the normal assay weight for
gold, being about 7. 7 grains troy. This weight is stamped
1000; and all the lesser weights (afterwards brought intorequisition) are decimal divisions of this weight, down to one
ten-thousandth part.
Silver is next weighed out for the quartation (alloying), and
as the assay piece, if standard, should contain 90Q-thousandths.
of gold, there must be three times this weight, or 2700-thousandths of silver; and this is the quantity used. The lead
used for the cupellation is kept prepared in thin sheets, cut in
square pieces, which should each weigh about ten times as
much as the gold under assay. The lead is now rolled intothe form of a hollow cone; and into this are introduced the
assay gold and the quartation silver, when the lead is closed
around them and pressed into a ball. The furnace having been
properly heated, and the cupels placed in it and brought to
the same temperature, the leaden ball, with its contents, is put
into a cupel (a small cup made of burned bones, capable of
absorbing base metals), the furnace closed, and the operation
allowed to proceed, until all agita.tion is ceased to be observed
in the melted metal, and its surface has become bright. This
is an indication that the whole of the base metals have been
converted into oxides, and absorbed by the cupel.
The cupellation being thus finished, the metal is allowed to
cool slowly, and the disc or button which it forms is taken
from the cupel. The button is then flattened by a hammer;
is annealed by bringing it to a red heat; is laminated by
passing it between the rollers; is again annealed; and is rolled
loosely into a spiral or coil called a cornet. It is now ready
for the process of quartation. Th~ waa formerly effected in

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

a glass matrass, aud that mode is still used occasionally, when
there are few assays. But a great improvement, first introduced
into this country by the Assayer in 1867, was the-" platinum apparatus," invented ii;i. England. It consists of a platinum vessel in which to boil the nitric acid, which is to dissolve
out the silver, and a small tray containing a set of platinum
thimbles with fine slits in the bottom. In these the silver is
taken out, by successive supplies of nitric acid, without any decanting as in the case of glass vessels. The cornets are also
annealed in the thimbles ; in fact there is no shifting from the
coiling to the final weighing, which determines the fineness of
the original sample by proportionate weights in thousandths.
In this process extra care has to be taken in adding the proportions of silver, as the "sh11,king " of any one cornet, might
damage the others.
ASSAYING SILVER.

The process of assaying silver differs from that of gold. To
obtain the assay sample, a little of the metals is dipped from
the pot and poured quickly into water, producing a granulation, from portions of which that needed for assay is taken.
In the case of silver alloyed with copper there is separation, to
a greater or less degree, between the two metals in the act of
solidification. Thus an ingot or bar, cooled in a mould, or any
single piece cut from either, though really 900-thousandths
fine on the average, will show such variations, according to the
place of cutting, as might exceed the limits allowed by law.
But the sudden chill produced by throwing the liquid metal
into water, yields a granulation of entirely homogeneous
mixture that the same fineness results, whether by assaying a.
single granule, or part of one, or a number.
From this sample the weight of 1115 thousandths is taken;
this is dissolved in a glass bottle with nitric acid. The standard ·
solution of salt is introduced and chloride of silver is the result,
which contains of the metallic silver 1000 parts; this is repeated
until the addition of the salt water shows but a faint trace of
chloride below the upper surface of the liquid. For instance:
if three measures of the decimal solution have been used with
effect, the result will show that the 1115 parts of the piece contained 1003 of pure silver; and thus the proportion of pure
silver in the whole alloyed metal is ascertained. Extensive
knowledge and experience are required in such matters as
making the bone-ash cupels, fine proof gold and silver, testing
acids, and other special examinations and operations. The
Assayer must, himself, be familiar with all the operations of
minting, as critical questions are naturally carried to him.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

The rendering of decisions upon counterfeit or suspicious coins
hHB long been a specialty in this department. Once a year the
President appoints a scientific commission to examine the coins
of the preceding year. There has never yet been a Philadelphia
coin found out.side of the tolerance of fineness.
THE SEPARATING RooM.

This department occupies the largest part of the west side of
the building, on the second floor. Here the gold and silver
used by the Mint in the manufacture of coin and fine bare are
separated from each other, or whatever other metals may be
mixed with them, and purified. It goes to this room after
having been once melted and assayed. · In separating and purifying gold, it is always necessary to add to it a certain quantity
of pure silver. The whole is then immersed in nitric acid,
which dissolves the silver into a liquid which looks like pure
water. The acid does not dissolve the gold, but leaves it pure.
The silver solution is then drawn off, leaving the gold at the
bottom of the tub. It is then gathered up into pans and
washed.
The silver in the condition in which it is received from the hands
of the depositor, and generally filled with foreign impurities, is
melted and then granulated, after which the whole mass is dissolved with nitric acid. The acid dissolves the base metals as
well as the silver. The liquid metals are then run into tubs prepared for it, and precipitated, or rendered into a partially hard
state, by being mixed with common salt water. After being
precipitated it is called "chloride," and resembles very closely
new slacked lime. By putting spelter or zinc on the precipitated chloride, it becomes metallic silver, and only needs washing and melting to make the purest virgin metal. The base
metals remain in a liquid state, and being of little value are
generally thrown away. The process of refining silver is of
two kinds; that of melting it with saltpetre, etc., which was
known some thousands of years since, and the modern process
of dissolving it in nitric acid, like the method of extracting it
from gold in the above described operation.
After the separating process has been completed, the gold
or silver is conveyed to the Drying Cellar, where it is put
under pressure of some eighty tons, and all the water pressed
out. It is then dried with heat, and afterwards conveyed in
large cakes to the furnaces.
THE MELTING ROOMS.

are on the first floor, in the west side of the building. Here
all the metal used in coining is alloyed, melted and poured into

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

narrow moulds. These castings are called ingots ; they are
about twelve inches long, a half-inch thick, and vary from one
to two a half-inches in breadth, according to the coin for which
they are used, one end being wedge-shaped to allow its being

CASTING INGOTS.

passed through the rollers. The value of gold ingots is from
$600 to $1,400; those of silver, about $60. The fine gold
and silver bars used in the arts and for commercial purposes,
are also cast in this department.

INGOTS.

These are stamped with their weight and value in the deposit
\ oom. The floors that cover the melting rooms are made of
iron in honey-comb pattern, divided into small sections, so

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

that they can be readily taken up to save the dust; their
roughness acting as a scraper, preventing any metallic particles
from clinging to the soles of the shoes of those who pass through
the department, the sweepings of which, and including the
entire building, averages $23,000 per annum, for the last five
years.
The copper and nickel melting rooms, wherein all the base
metals used are melted and mixed, is on the same side and
adjoining to the gold and silver department. Up to the year
1856, the base coin of the United States was exclusively
copper. In this year the coinage of what was called the
nickel cents was commenced. These pieces, although called
nickel, were composed of one-eighth nickel ; the balance was
copper.
The composition of the five and three cent pieces is onef'ourth nickel; the balance cqpper. The bronze pieces were
changed in 1859, and are a mixture of copper, zinc and tin,
about equal parts of each of the two last; the former contributing about 95 per cent. There are seven furnaces in this room,
each capable of melting five hundred pounds of metal per day.
When the metal is heated and sufficiently mixed, it is poured
into iron moulds, and when cool, and the rough ends clipped
off, is ready to be conveyed to the rolling room.
THE ROLLING RooM.

From the melting rooms through the corridor we reach the
rolling room. The upright engine, on the right, of one hundred and sixty horse power, supplies the motive force to the rolling machines, four in number. Those on the left, are massive
and substantial in their frame-work, with rollers of steel,
polished by service in reducing the ingots to planchets for
coining. The first process or rolling is termed breaking down ;
after that it requires to be passed through the machine until it
is reduced to the required thinness-ten times if gold, eight if
silver, being annealed in the intervals to prevent breaking.
The rollers are adjustable and the space between them can be
increased or diminished at pleasure, by the operator. About
two hundred ingots are run through per hour on each pair of
, rollers.
The pressure applied is so intense that half a day's rolling
heats, not only the strips and rollers, but even the huge iron
stanchions, weighing several tons, so hot that you can hardly
hold your hand on them.
When the rolling is completed the strip is about six feet long,
or six times as long as the ingot.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

It is impossible to roll perfectly true. At times there will be
a lump of hard gold, which will not be quite so much compressed
as the rest. If the planchets were. cut from this place, it
would be heavier and more valuable than one cut from a thinner
portion of the strip. It is, therefore, necessary to " draw" the
strips, after being softened by annealing.

ROLLING MACHINE.

ANNEALING FURNACES.

These are in the same room, to the right facing the rollers.
The gold and strips are placed in copper canisters, and then
placed in the furnaces and heated to a red heat; silver strips
being laid loosely in the furnace. When they become soft a~d
pliable, they are taken out and allowed to cool slowly.
THE DRAWING BENCHES.

These machines resemble long tables, with a bench on either
side, at one end of which is an iron box secured to the table.
In this are fastened two perpendicular steel cylinders, firmly
supported in a bed, to prevent their bending or turning around,
and presenting but a small portion of their circumference to
the strip. These are exactly at the same distance apart that
the thickness of the strip is required to be. One end of the

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

strip is somewhat thinner than the rest, to allow it to p1U!8
easily between the cylinders. When through, this end is put
between the jaws of a powerful pair of tongs, or pincers,
fastened to a little carriage running on the table. The carriage
to the further bench is up close to the cylinders, ready to receive
a strip, which is inserted edgewise. When the end is between
the pincers, the operator touches a foot pedal which closes the
pincers firmly on the strip, and pressing another pedal, forces
down a strong hook at the left end of the carriage, which
catches in a link of the moving chain. This draws the
carriage away from the cylinders, and . the strip being connected with it has to follow. It is drawn between the cylinders,

DRAWING BENCH,

which operating on the thick part of the strip with greater power
than upon the thin, reduces the whole to an equal thickness.
When the strip is through, the strain on the tongs instantly
ceases, which allows a spring to open them and drop the strip.
· At the same time another spring raises the hook and disengages
the carriage from the chain. A cord fastened to the carriage
runs back over the wheel near the head of the table, and then
up to a couple of combination weights on the wall beyond,
which draw the carriage back to the starting place, ready for
another strip.
THE CUTTING MACHINES.

After being thoroughly washed, the strips are consigned to
the cutting machines. These are in the rear of the rolling mills,

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THB UNITED STATES MINT.

and are several in number, each when in active operation
cutting two hundred and ·twenty-five planchets per minute.
The press now used, consists of a vertical steel punch, which
works in a round hole or matrix, cut in a solid steel plate.
The action of the punch is obtained by an eccentric wheel.
For instance, in an ordinary carriage wheel, the axis is in the
centre, and the wheel revolves evenly around it. But if the

CUTTING MACHINE.

axis is placed, say four inches from the centre, then it would
revolve with a kind of hobble. From this peculiar motion
its name is derived. Suppose the tire of the wheel is arranged,
not to revolve with, but to slip easily around the wheel, and a
rod is fastened to one side of th~ tire which prevents its turn-

STRIP FROM WHICH PLANCHETS ARE CUT.

ing. Now as the wheel revolves and brings the long side nearest the rod, it will push forward the rod, and when the long
side of the wheel is away from the rod, it draws the rod with it.
The upper shaft, on which are seen the three large wheels,
has also fastened to it. over each press, an eccentric wheel. In

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF
---------~---- -~-------the first illustration will be seen three upright rods running
from near the table to the top. The middle one is connected
with a tire around the eccentric wheel, and rises and falls with
each revolution. The eccentric power gives great rapidity of
motion with but little jerking.
The operator places one end of a strip of metal in the immense jaws of the press, and cuts out a couple of planchets,
which are a fraction larger than the coin to be struck. As the
· strips are of uniform thickness, if these two are of the right
weight, all cut from that strip will be the same. They are
therefore weighed accurately. If right, or a little heavy, they
are allowed to pass, as the extra weight can be filed off. If too
light, the whole strip has to be re-melted. As fast as cut the
planchets fall into a box below, and the perforated strips are
folded into convenient lengths to be re-melted. From a strip
worth say eleven hundred dollars, eight hundred dollars of
planchets will be cut.
ADJUSTING

RooM.

The planchets are then removed to the adjusting room, where
they are adjusted. This work is performed by ladies. After

DELICATE SCALES.

inspection they are weighep. on very accurate scales. If a
planchet is too heavy, but near the weight, it is filed off at the
edges ; if too heavy for filing, it is thrown aside with the light

I

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

33

ones, to be re-melted. To adjust coin so accurately requires
great delicacy and skill, as a too free use of the file would
make it too lip;ht. Yet by long practice, so accustomed do
the operators become, that they work with apparent unconcern,
scarce glancing at either pla.nchets or scales, and guided as it
were by unerring touch.
The exceedingly delicate scales were made under the direction of Mr. Peale, who greatly improved on the old ones in
use. So precise and sensitive are they that the slightest breath
of air affects their accuracy, rendering it necessary to exclude
every draft from the room. ·
PROGRESS IN COINING.

The methods of coining mo~ey have varied with the progress
in mechanic arts, and are but indefinitely traced from the
beginning ; the primitive mode, being by the casting of
the piece in sand, the impression being made with a hammer

•

ANCIENT COINING PRESS,

and punch. In the middle ages the metal was hammered into
sheets of the required thickness, cut with shears into shape,
and then stamped by hand with the design. The mill and
screw, by which greater increase in power, with finer finish was
gained, dates back to the Sixteenth Century. This process,
with various modifications and improvements, continued in use
in the Philadelphia Mint until 1836.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

The first steam coining press was invented by M. Thonnelier,
of France, in 1833, and was first used in the United States
Mint in 1836. It was remodeled and rebuilt in 1858, but iµ
1874 was superseded by the one now in operation, the very

STEAM COINING PRESS.

perfection of mechanism, in which the vibration and unsteady
bearing of the former press were entirely obviated, ·and precision attained by the solid stroke with a saving of over seventyfive per cent. in the wearing and breaking of the dies.

Drns.
· The dies for coining are prepared by engravers, especially
employed at the Mint for that purpose. The process of engraving them consists in cutting the devices and legends in
soft steel, those parts being depressed which, in the coin, appear
in relief. This, having been finished
and hardened, constitutes an " ori,qinal die," which, being the result of
a tedious and difficult task, is deemed
too precious to be directly employed
in striking coins; but it is used for
multiplying dies. It is finit used to
DIES,
impress another piece of soft steel,
which then presents the appearance of a coin, and is c!tlled a.
hub. This hub, being hardened, is used to impress other

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THE uNITED STATES :.::.XT.

pieces of steel in like manner which, being like the original
die, are hardened and used for striking the coins. A pair of
these will, on an average, perform two weeks' work.

TRANSI,'ER LATHE.

The transfer lathe, a very complicated piece of machinery, is
used in making dies, for coins and medals. By it, from a large
cast, the design can be transferred and engraved in smaller
size, in perfect proportion to the original.
THE COINING AND :MILLING ROOMS.

This department, the most interesting to the general visitor,
occupies the larger portion of the first floor on the east side of
the building. The rooms are divided by an iron railing, which
aepar,ttes the visitors, on either side, from the machinery, etc.,
but allows everything to be seen.

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-36

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

The planchets, after being adjusted, are received here, and,
in order to protect the surface of the coin, are passed through
the milling-machine. The planchets are fed to this machine

i

MILLING MACHINE.

through an upright tube, and, as they descend from the lower
aperture, they are caught upoP. the edge of a revolving wheel

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37"

THE UXITED STATES :MI:S-T.

and carried about a quarter of a revolution, during which the
edge is compressed and forced up-the space between the wheel
and the rim being a little le~ than the diameter of the planchet. This apparatus moves so nimbly that five hundred and
sixty half-dimes can be milled in a minute; but, for large
pieces, the average is about one hundre<l and twenty. In this.

PERFECTED COINING PRESS.

room are the milling machines, and the massive, but delicate,_
coining presses, ten in number. Each of these is capable oi
coining from eighty to one hundred pieces a minute. Onlythe largest are used in making coins of large denominations.
The arch is a solid piece of cast iron, weighing several tons,
and unites with its beauty great strength. The table is also,

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

of iron, brightly polished and very heavy. In the interior of
the arch is a. nearly round plate of brass, called a triangle. It
is fastened to a lever above by two steel bands, termed stirrups,
one of which can be seen to the right of the arch. The stout
1,rm above it, looking so dark in the picture, is also connected
~~,,-~-...~---=-=·-- ·

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--

·~~'r
----~

-

-

;:;1/_?

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///~
. .,,. .,,.

/
,/

/

COINING PRESS,

with the triangle by a ball-and-socket joint, and it is this arm
which forces down the triangle. The arm is connected with
the end of the lever above by a joint somewhat like that of the
knee. One end of the lever can b~ seen reaching behind the
arch to a crank near the large fly-wheel. When the triangle

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39

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

is raised, the arm and near end of the lever extends outward.
When the cra-r,.k lifts the further end of the lever it draws in
the knee and forces down the arm until it is perfectly straight.
By that time- the crank has revolved and is lowering the lever,
which forces out the knee again and raises the arm. As the triangle is fastened to the arm it has to follow all its movements.
Under the triangle, buried in the lower part of the arch, is a
st.eel cup, or, technically, a "die stake." Into this is fastened
the reverse die. The die stake is arranged to rise one-eighth
of an inch; when down it rests firmly on the solid foundation
of the arch. Over the die stake is a steel collar or plate, in
which is a hole large enough to allow a planchet to drop upon
the die. In the triangle above, the obverse die is fastened, which
moves with the triangle; when the knee is straightened the die
fits into the collar and presses down upon the reverse die.
Just in front of the triangle will be seen an upright tube made
of brass, and of the size to hold the planchets to be coined.
These are placed in this tube. As they reach the bottom they
are seized singly by a pair of steel feeders, in motion as similar
to that of the finger and thumb as is possible in machinery,
and carried over the collar and deposited between the dies,
and, while the fingers are expanding and returning for another
planchet, the dies close on the one within the collar, and by a
rotary motion are made to impress it silently but powerfully.
The fingers, as they again close upon a planchet at the mouth
of the tube, also seize the coin, and, while conveying a second
planchet on to the die, carry the coin off, dropping it into a
box provided for that purpose, and the operation is continued
ad infinitum. These presses are attended by ladies, and do
their work in a perfect manner. The engine that drives the
machinery is of one hundred and sixty horse-power.
After being stamped the coins are taken to the Coiner's room.
and placed on a long table-the double eagles in piles of ten each.
It will be remembered that, in the Adjusting Room, a differenec
of one-half a grain was made in the weight of some of the double
eagles. The light and heavy ones are kept separate in coining,
and when delivered to the treasurer, they are mixed together in
such proportions as to give him full weight in every delivery.
By law the deviation from the standard weight, in delivering to
him, must not exceed three pennyweights in one thousand double
eagles. The gold coins-as small as quarter eagles being counted
and weighed to verify the count-are put up in bags of $5,000
each. The three-dollar pieces are put up in bags of $3,000,
and one-dollar pieces in $1,000 bags. The silver pieces, and
sometimes small gold, are counted on a very ingenious contrivance called a "counting-board."

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ILLUSTRA'rED HISTORY OF

COUNTING BOARD,

By this process twenty-five dollars in five-cent pieces can be
counted in less than a minute. The "boards" are a simple flat
surface of wood, with copper partitions, the height and size of the
coin to be counted, rising from the surface at regular intervals,
and running parallel with each other from top to bottom. They
somewhat resemble a common household "washing board," with
the grooves running parallel with the sides but much larger.
The boards are worked by hand, over a box, and as the piece11
are counted they slide into a drawer prepared to receive them.
They are then put into bags and are ready for shipment.*
• For the various duties or the Mint there are over three hundred persons employed
as clerks, workmen, etc.-say about two-thirds men and one-third women-the number
depending, or course, upon the amount of work to be done.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

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-------------------------THE CABINET;
THE room in the Mint used for the Cabinet is on 'the second
floor. It waa formerly a suite of three apartments connected
by folding-doors, but the doors have been removed, and it is
now a pleasant saloon fifty-four feet long by sixteen wide.
The eastern and western sections are of the same proportions,
each with a broad window. The central section is lighted
from the dome, which is suported by four columns. There is
an open space immediately under the dome, to give light to
the hall below, which is the main entrance to the Mint.
Around this space is a railing and a circular case for coins.
The Cabinet of Coins was established in 1838, by Dr. R. M.
Patterson, then Director of the Mint. Anticipating such a
demand, reserves had been made for many years by Adam
Eckfeldt, * the Coiner, of the "master coins" of the Mint; a
term used to signify first pieces from new dies, bearing a high
polish and struck with extra care. These are now more commonly called "proof pieces." With this nucleus, and a few
other valuable pieces from Mr. Eckfeldt, the business was
committed to the Assay Department, and especially to Mr.
Du Bois, Assistant Assayer. The collection grew, year by
year, by making exchanges to supply deficiencies, by purchases, by adding our own coin, and by saving foreign coins
from the melting-pot-a large part in this way, at a cost of
not more than their bullion value, though demanding great
care, appreciation, and study. Vi;luable donations were also
made by travelers, consuls, and missionaries. In 1839, Congress appropriated the sum of $1,000 for the purchase of
"specimens of ores and coins to be preserved at the Mint."
Annually, since, the sum of $300 has been appropriated by the
Government for this object. More has not been asked or desired, for the officers of the Mint have not sought to vie with
the long established collections of the national cabinets of the
old world, or even to equal the extravagance of some private
numismatists; but they have admirably succeeded in their
purpose to secure such coins as would interest all, from the
schoolboy to the most enthusiastic archreologist. The economic
principle upon which the collection has been gathered is a
lesson to all governmental departments in frugality, as well as
a restraint upon the natural tendency to extravagance which
has heretofore distinguished those who have a passion for old
coins. There are thousands of coin collectors in the United
* Aclam F.ckfeldt'• portrait, by f'amuel Du Bois, bangs in the Cabinet. A short oketch
of him will be found in the list of Coiners.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

States, and fortunes have been accumulated in this strange
More than one authenticated instance has been known
in this country where a man has lived in penury, and died
from want, yet possessed of affiuence in time-defaced coins.
way.

RELICS.

Having referred to the portraits of the Directors of the
Mint, we will cite other interesting subjects of observation,
before describing the coins.
The first object in the Cabinet attracting attention is a
framed copy of the law of Congress establishing the Mint,
with its quaint phraseology with the signature of Thomas
Jefferson. (See facsimile on page 11.)
In the first section, near the western window, is the assorting machine, the invention of a Frenchman, Baron Seguier,
and which is now in use in the Mint at Paris.
The planchets for coinage are liabJe to be a little too heavy
or too light; it is therefore necessary, at least in the case of
gold, to assort them by weighing. This machine is designed
to enable one person to do the work of many. "The planchets
are thrown into the hopper at the rear, and, being arranged
by the action of the wheel, slide down balances. By machinery beneath they are carried one by one to the nearest
platforms to be weighed. If too heavy, the tall needle of the
beam leans to the right and lifts a pallet-wire, which connects
with an apparatus under the table by which the planchet is
pushed off and• slides into one of the brass pans in front. If
the piece be light, the needle is drawn over to the left, and
touches the other pallet, which makes a passage to another
brass pan. If the piece be of true weight, or near enough,
the needle stands perpendicular between the pallets, and the
piece finds its way into the third brass pan."
On the opposite wall is a fine cast of Cromwell, a duplicate
of one taken shortly after his death. It was placed here by
Mr. W. E. Du Bois, who received it from H. W. Field, Esq.,
late Assayer of the Royal Mint, London, who is a descendant
of the great Protector. Below the cast of Cromwell is a cage
showing progressive "alloys of gold." The plates comprise
gold alloyed with copper, gold alloyed with silver, and gold
fine.
In the eastern section are the Standard Test Scales, used to
test the weights sent to all the mints and assay offices in the
United States, and are so delicate as to weigh the twentythousandth part of an ounce. These scales were manufactured
by employees of the Mint, and have been in use more than a

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43

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

quarter of a century. The beam is hollow, and filled with
Spanish cedar to guard against the effect of dampness; the
bearings are ~dges of knife-blades, which impinge on a surface
of agate plate. These scales are tested by the Annual.Assay
Committee, which meets on the second Tuesday in February of
~very year.
CURIOSITIES AND MINERALS.

The most interesting objects of this curious display are
three golden images from graves in the Island of Chiriqui, off
Central America. They were dug up in 1858, and sent to
the Mint as bullion, to be melted. They are of pure gold,
but the workmanship is very crude. The images are in the
forms of a reptile, a bird, and a man with symbols of power in
his hands, not unlike those designating Jupiter. There are
also, in the first section, two large cases with choice selections
of mineral specimens, carefully classified and labeled. These
are from well selected results of years of patient collecting, and
are deserving of more study than can be devoted to them by
<Jasual visi!;ors. They are chiefly from different parts of the
United States, and are an "index book" to the vast mineral
wealth of the nation.
Near the exit door of the Cabinet, in a large glass case, is a
magnificent American eagle, which is worthy of the visitor's
attention. It is superbly mounted, with grand breadth of
wing and won(jrous piercing eyes. The portrait of this " pet "
can be recognized on Reverse of the " Pattern " Silver Dollars
of 1836, 1838, and 1839, and on the Obverse of the first
nickel cent pieces coined in 1856.
"PETER,"

the name which the noble bird recognized, was an inhabitant of
the Mint six years. He would fly about the city, but no one
interfered with the going or coming of the " Mint bird," and
he never failed to. return from his daily exercise before the
time for closing the building. In an evil hour he unfortunately
perched upon a large fly wheel, and getting caught in the
machinery, received a fatal injury to his wing, and this ended
rather an unusual career for an eagle.
EASTERN CORRIDOR.

Opening into the eastern corridor are the rooms of the
Superintendent, the Chief Clerk, and the library of Historical and Scientific Works, including many valuable books upon
the .art of coinage. Passing out upon the gallery, we enter

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

the Machinists' and Engravers' rooms. Here are engraved
and finished the dies used in this Mint and in all the branch
mints. Visitors are not ordinarily allowed access to these
rooms, or to the assay office, or to the cellar. (In the latter are
a number of immense vaults, and in the main cellar are engines, which supply the power and light used throughout the
building.) Here are also blacksmith, carpenter, and paint
shops; and in the rear, west side, is the medal-striking room,
where medals are struck by a screw press, worked by hand.
The cellar also contains the "sweep '' grinding rooms. Near
this room are the wells, which are receptacles for the water
used in washing the precious metals. These wells are cleaned
out every few years and the deposit is then treated in the
same way as the sweepings.
The little wooden building in the court was formerly the
cent-room, where copper cents were exchanged for nickels;*
it is now the office of the agent of the Adams Express Company,.
who brings to the Philadelphia Mint millions of dollars worth
of precious metals in the shape of bullion from the far west,
to be converted into American Coin, when it isagain transported by the same company to various points to be put intocirculation.

Corns.
The ancient coins are chiefly arranged in upright cases
against the walls in the doorways and the middle section of
the saloon. The modern coins are placed in nearly level
cases at either end of the room and in the circular or central cases. Of antique coins the portion labeled Cabinet Nos.
97, 98, 99, " Massilia," are interesting as belonging to a
Greek colony which settled about six hurnlred years before
Christ upon the coast of Gaul, on the spot now known as
Marseilles. This little colony fled their native country and
the rule of a governor placed over it by a Persian monarch.
They were distinguished for their civilization, and the work
upon these small coins is the most palpable witness of that
fact in existence to-day.
GREEK

Corns.

Their surfaces, of gold, silver, and bronze, bristle with lance
:tnd spear, helmet and shield. On one of these coins Jove is
seated and bearing an eagle, defying Alexander of Macedon,
while on the obverse the same mighty conqueror impersonates Hercules. The oldest coin here is supposed to date back
to 550 B.C. It is well to mention the fact that coins were
• The exchange at the present time (1885) is made at the Sub-Treasury in the Custom.
House.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT,

never dated until the fifteenth century ; and previous to that
time the ages of coins can only be determined by the legends
upon them, as answering to the page of corroborative history
and the art era to which they belonged. No. 9 bears on
the obverse the Macedonian horse, a favorite animal, which
the then war-loving Greeks are said to have deified At this
period the haughty royal families began to chronicle in coin
their line of descent. The kings of Macedon claimed Her<mles for 11,n ancestor, and in proof thereof the lion's skin was
a royal insignia. An old historian says, " The kings of Macedon, instead of the crown, the diadem, the purple, bear upon
their effigy the skin of a lion." Several pieces of money in
this case, upon which are heads of Alexander, have rings in
them, -and were worn by gracious dames as ornaments. The
value of thii;i series of coins is priceless, as furnishing portraits
-0f the heroes of that period which can be received without
question as accurate, for the art patronage of the kingdom was
regulated by the strictest laws. Alexander was especially
jealous of how the future nations should regard his physique,
allowing only three artists, during his reign, the privilege of
drawing, painting, or modeling his head.* To such royal
guardianship may be attributed the perfection to which Greek
art attained; and it may well be a matter of regret that the
same firmness in this regard was not universal. The last coin
of this series is a small bronze coin, and was issued by Perseus, the last king of Macedon.
PERSIAN.

In this case is a collection of Persian coins, very choice,
and of no mean workmanship, and, of course, portraying the
faith and rites of the fire-worshippers. One era is distinctly
Greek in style, and marks the period of Greek supremacy.
The oldest gold coin known to the collector is the gold Daric
-0f King Darius, with the head of the king in bold- relief; and
all Persian coins are so called in remembrance of this monarch. Their money was very fine, so the word IJaric has become incorporated into numismatic terminology to designate
any pure gold coin. Nos. 58 to 67, inclusive, of this series,
are silver coins of the Sassanian kings.
EGYPT

is also represented in this case, as is proper, for that nation
had no coinage until it was taught the art when conquered by
• Horace says that Alexander tlw Great ordained that no one should take his portrait
-On gems but Pyrgotelcs; no one should paint him hut. Apclles; and no one should stamp
his head on coins but Lysippus.-American Bibliopolist.

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Alexander. Here are some very attractive data of Egyptian
history, and from these coins are obtained the only portraits
of Arsinoe, Cleopatra, and others.
THE SYRIAN Corns

are embraced in the division called " Greek monarchies," and
in them are found many coins not only important in history,
but of the very finest Greek art, from the third to the first
century B.C. In this period the Syriac and Hebrew coins
become intermingled, a fact abundantly sustained by the Jewish shekel of Simon Maccabees. The legend of this interesting relic is in the language of Samaria; on one side the
budding rod of Aaron, legend, "Jerusalem the Holy;" on
the other, a cup of incense or pot of manna, and the inscription, '' Shekel of Israel.'' This shekel is well preserved, and ·
is one of the most prized coins known. (See Plate and CaseXV., marked " Selections." In this collection are some coins
from Bactria, considered priceless by savans. These are trophies of recent British explorations, and are judged to be of
sufficient importance to call forth from an English professor
an extended treatise on the "Antiquities and Coins of Afghanistan." They are exceedingly rude in workmanship, and
nearly all of baser metal, the most important being a small,
square, brass coin, in the case marked "Selections."
RoMAN Corns.

The collection of Roman coins in this Cabinet numbers.
nearly one thousand, and an acquaintance with it is invaluable
for object teaching, as in it is the condensed history, not only
of the glory of Rome, "Mistress of the World," but of her customs, faith, conquests, wealth, culture, divisions, and downfall.
Through this entire section of time-one-third of the known
history of the world-Roman art, though high, never reached
the exalted purity of Greek lines. In their finest coins we see
no Phidias, no Myron, no Praxiteles, but they deteriorate and
fluctuate visibly when in or out of contact with the influence
of the Grecian mind.
GREEK REPUBLIC

will be first in interest. both historic and artistic. It is conceded that to the Greeks the world owes the introduction of
the art of coinage, and though centuries numbered by tens
have passed, some of the old Greek coins equal many modern
productions jn purity of lines, and surpass nearly all in poetic.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

sentiment.
On the first coins no earthly potentate was
allowed to be pictured, no deed of heroiAm portrayed. The
glory of the gods was considered the only appropriate theme
for impressions on the surface of bronze, silver, and gold.
The coins of the republic embrace a large variety, as nearly a
thousand towns were allowed the privilege of coinage. Upon
this varied issue are preserved nearly all the legends of Greek
mythology. Upon the coins are the heads of Jupiter, Juno,
Minerva, Bacchus, Apollo, and Diana, with many sacred
animals, and the work is to-day the standi,,rd of artistic perfection. Of course, the collection of this ancient period cannot be extensive. In thjs case there are, however, more than
one hundred and fifty specimens, and these present a study
so attractive and so intense that it is almost impossible to
imagine what classic poetry would be without it.
Nos. 4, 5, and 6, are silver coins of 1Egina, which have on
the obverse, for a device, the tortoise, emblematic of the security of the islanJ amid the waves, and the protection of the
gods of the sea. On the reverse are the marks of the punches
only, probably denoting the value of the coins. These are
claim<id to belong to an era seven hundred years before Christ.
No. 28 is a silver coin of Athens, with a head of Minerva
splendidly drawn upon the obverse, while the reverse presents
a large owl, the bird sacred to the goddess of Wisdom. The
devices upon this coin indicate its age to be from twenty-one
to twenty-three centuries. The Greek proverb of "taking
owls to Athens" referred to this coin, which was necessarily
of great importance to the tradespeople of that city.
FAMILY COINS.

. These comprise about one hundred and seventy-five, of
which one hundred and twenty-six are in the collection.
They were struck to record the heroic deeds which first introduced any notable ancestor to fame, and hence are to-day
family charts of respectability for many of the patricians of
Rome, albeit some of them have plebeian roots. Be that as
it may, they are as much the trusted patents of aristocracy as
is the "Book of the Peerage" of England. Here are found
the same distinctions between patrician and plebeian which
mark all countries, the patricians being always designated by
a symbol of warfare, while the plebeians were indicated by
the tools and instruments of common trade. The more noticeable of the coins are as follows: No. 16, Acilia; the reverse a female leaning against a pillar, with a serpent
chitched in her right hand, indicating the wisdo19 or courage

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

of some ancestor. N~. 20, 1Emilia; on the obverse of this
curious coin is a figure kneeling by the side of a camel, presenting an olive branch, from which depends a fillet or ancient
diadem; on the reverse, a figure guiding a triumphal chariot,
a scorpion in the field. Josephus tells us of an invasion of
Arabia, and that Aretus, the king of the country, purchased
peace of the Romans for five hundred talents. The diadem
hanging from the olive branch chronicles the entire humiliation of Aretus, and the scorpion doubtless indicates the month
of ihe Roman triumph.- No. 30, Aquillia, a small silver
coin; the reverse shows a woman kneeling before a soldier.
The motto below the figures (or in the exergue of the coin, as
is the art term) is "Sicil." This commemorates the suppression of a revolt of slaves in Sicily, which was achieved by
Manlius Aquillia. No. 41, Calpurnia, the family of Cresar's
noble wife; reverse, a horseman riding at full speed, a head
of wheat above him; legend, L. Piso-Trugi. The coin recallsthe fact that in the year 507 B. c. there was a famine in
Rome, and Calpurnius Piso was dispatched to Africa to buy
corn. This seemingly small service is magnified upon a large
number of coins. Nos. 95 and 96, Hostilia, a coin with a
sacrifice to Pallor and Pavor (fear and trembling), offered by
Tullus Hostilius in some great emergency. No. 97, Julia;
obverse, a helmeted head; legend, Cresar; reverse, a warricr
in a chariot drawn by two horses.
No. 98, Junia; obverse, head of Liberty; reverse, Junius
Brutus guarded by lictors, and preceded by a herald, showing
that an ancestor of Junius Brutus was the first consul of
Rome. Nos. 181, 182, Tituria. The reverse shows two soldiers throwing their shields upon a prostrate female, illustrating the famous story of the " Tarpeian Rock." Reverse rep:
resents the Romans carrying off Sabine women-a witness. in
coin of the fact that the family of Tituria trace their ancestry
from the Sabines. To do justice to this case is impossible, for
here are coins relating to the ancestors of .i\.ntonia, Aurelia,
Cornelia, Fulvia, Horatio, Lucretia, Lucilla, Sempronia, Titia
Valeria, and many others familiar to the readers of history.
This era of coins terminated about the time of the birth of
Christ, when the
IMPERIAL Corns
were introduced. In noticing these, little save the labels on
the case can be given.

Division IL
Julius Cre,sar to Trajan, inclusive. Beginning 49 B. c., and
ending 117 A.D. A simple catalogue of the illustrious names

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

-on these coins would convey an idea of their importance. All
the victories of Cresar are marked by coinage ; but out of the
two hundred belonging to this case reference need only be
made to No. 24, r, beautiful gold coin, with the undraped head
-of Augustus, exquisitely severe, the interest attaching chiefly
to the legend, " The Son of God," referring to the deification
,of Cresar.

IJivision IIL
embraces from Hadrian to Elagabalus, 117-222. In the reign
of Hadrian much coin was issued, though it did not bear marks
of the disasters and revolts that signalized the foregoing. That
he was a merciful ruler is indicated by the coins, especially
one-Hispania; the reverse showing the emperor raising
Spain-a female figure-from the ground. His travels are
.also illustrated in coin.

IJivision IV.
From Severus Alexander to Claudius Gothicus, 222-270.
'These coins indicate the vicious effect of the rulers immediately
preceding.

IJivision V.
From Aurelian to the end of the Western Empire; includes
270-47fl. A brilliant succession; Aurelian's busy reign,
,ending in assassination·; the war-like Probus, the slave-emperor; Diocletian's despotism and vindictive persecution of
Christians; the usurpation of Carausius; the happy reign of
·Constantine the Great, Julian, Theodosius, down to Julius
N epos. These are a few of the historic names and events
presented in this division.

IJivision VL
-covers the period of the Byzantine or Eastern Empire, and a
)apse of eight centuries; but the coinage is not comparable
with that of other eras, nor were events of so stirring and
heroic a character. A general decay, painful to contemplate,
marked this long lapse of time, which began near the accept-1.mce of Christianity, and extended through the dark ages.
"THE TEMPLE SWEEPERS."

A small case attracts no little attention, because it contains
a single coin ; and the interest does not decrease when the in~cription is read: "Struck in the Philadelphia Mint, at least
two thousand years ago." The late Assayer of the Philadelphia

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

Mint, Mr. W. E. Du Bois, under title of" The Temple Sweepers," wrote, not long since, a valuable sketch of this coin, made
in the City of Attalus Philadelphus, Asia Minor, and for which
William Penn called his city, because the ancient one was a
monument of "brotherly love." Diana was the patroness of
Philadelphia.
"On one side, then, we have a head; not a king's nor an
emperor's; as yet the free city had a pride and a privilege
above that. It is a female head, an ideal, representing the
city itself; or rather the dwellers in it, the Demos. Here in
this head and title, we have the radix of Democracy.
" This is all we can gather from the obverse. On the other
side we have a larger variety : a running female figure ; a dog
also on the trot ; a legend of some length and of more significance.
" _The half-clad figure is that of the goddess known to theGreeks as Artemis, to the Latins as Diana ; and otherwise
called Selene, Phoobe, Delia, or Cynthia.
" She was the favorite divinity of the cities of Asia Minor.
Once the patroness of chastity and purity. Goddess of the
chase."
The legend on the obverse of this coin explains its name ~
"Friends of Philadelphia's [her] Temple Sweepers."

ORIENTAL.
Oriental coins are not as attractive as other varieties, though
there are special coins among them which have no rival in historic importance. Antique coins from the East were usually
without device, and, their legends being rudely inscribed in a.
dead language, proved frequently to be sealed fountains to the
thirsting antiquarian. Therefore in cases marked " Oriental''
the visitor is undetermined where to begin to study, and often
decides to give it but little time.
·
Those having for device the sacred peacock are from Burmah ; there is, however, in the division marked " Selections"
a very curious coin belonging to that country, which certainly
formed a part of its earliest currency. It is a common gravelstone, encased in a circling band of brass.
Corns OF SIAM.
The coins of Siam are much sought for. Some of them, known
to European travelers as '' bullet money," are lumps of gold or
silver, hammered by rude implements into a doubtful roundness, and a few Siamese characters stamped irregularly upon

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THE UNITED STATES :lil~T.

or

them. The sacred elephant is found on a large proportion
their money. A Siamese coin in the Cabinet, of modern date,
is quite handsome in both workmanship and design. On the
obverse is the sacred elephant in ponderous proportion, which
delights the eyes of the devout, and the reverse presents a.
group of three pagodas, finely drawn. In the case marked
" Selections" is a Siamese coin of gold, comparatively modem,
called " Tecal," corresponding in some respects to the •' Shekel,"
or " Oxen," of biblical fame.

CHINESE Corns.
On the south side of the first section is a case of seven hundred coins of the Celestial Empire. With but few exceptions
these coins are bronzed. Dynasty succeeds dynasty ; usurpation, insurrection, are all writ in bronze. The Chinese assert
an uninterrupted coinage for forty-one centuries. The manuscript attesting this is in the case, and was prepared under authority. Large numbers of their coins were considered charms,
sufficient to protect the owner against fever, or even the more
dreaded horrors of spiritual menace. In this connection it
may be said that the Chinese had an exalted reverence for the
coin-charm, and a small coin was often placed in the mouth of
the dead (now, if a Chinaman dies in California, a small silver
United States coin is placed on his tongue). These coins
were covered with cabalistic characters, symbolic animals,
birds, etc. Two worthy of notice in this regard, and said to
be of the oldest issue, are Nos. 1 and 2. The first might be
mistaken for an iron safe-key ; the second is known as the
"razor coin," its form and almost its size being that of a
razor.
.
In another case, appropriately labeled, is the Chinese porcelain money." They are the only people who have made
porcelain a "legal tender," though it would appear that almost
every part of the three kingdoms of nature has been laid under
contribution. The specimen here may be mistaken for the
popular Chinese sleeve-button, bought in any bazaar for a few
cents. The Chinese, as did also the Afrtcans, utilized the
small sea-shells for trade. In the same case are some of the
variety legalized. Ten small shells made one " cash." This
is a small, round, copper-bronzed coin, with a square hole in
the centre. The Chinese dames of high degree wore such
strung around their throats. One thousand of them are equal
to our dollar. The Japanese, however, outcount their neighbors, as they have a bronze coin called the "One-hundredth, ..
of which just seven thousand make one Spanish dollar.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

Shell money of pure gold, "or gold beaten into small solid
shells, was made by those natives who supplied the Portuguese
·slave-traders with slaves," and was called by the traders
"Spondylus Macutus," from which, some contend, came the
-slang term "spondulics." Forty of those small coins, each
worth about a dollar of Spanish money, was a high price for
.a slave.
There is also in the Cabinet a valuable collection of African
ring money. These ornaments are very massive and pure,
-comprised of elaborately carved "signet-rings, armlets, anklets," etc. One article, more novel and valuable than the
others, is a pipe of fine gold, bowl and handle of curious basrelief figures, and a heavy, square-linked chain attaching a large
meclallion, on which is the head of a monarch poorly drawn.
The Chinese government, like all despotisms, is very jealous
of its coining prerogatives; yet it does not fail to appreciate
an advantage when offered, as is evident to us by the following:
Proclamation for general information:
"WHEREAS, The foreign silver (coin) in daily use among
the people of the Kwang Tung Provinces has long been in
-circulation, and is moreover admitted to be advantageous and
convenient. In the 5th and 11th years of Tung Chih (1866
.and 1872) the Hong Kong Mint coined a new Dollar which,
upon comparison with pure silver, bore a proportion of fully
ninety per cent., and as the Records will prove. Proclamations were issued notifying the people that it might come into
general circulation. There has lately come to Hong Kong a.
newly coined American Eagle Dollar, called the " Trade
Dollar," and Sir Brooke Robinson, the British Consul, having
requested that officers might be appointed to assay it, the
Viceroy and Haikwan thereupon appointed officers to melt it
down and assay it, in concert with (an officer from the British
Consulate), when, taking the Haikwan Tael of pure silver as
the standard, an outturn was obtained of fully 89. 61-or
Taels 111.6 of this new Eagle Dollar are equal to 100
Haikwan Taels of pure silver. Minutes of the assay were
drawn up in proof thereof.
"For the convenience of Traders and people, therefore, this
eoin should be allowed to be tenclered in payment of duties at
the rate of touch obtained at the assay, and to come into daily
eirculation. It becomes the duty then of the Viceroy and his
colleagues to issue a Proclamation on the subject for general
information.
"This Proclamation, therefore, is for the information of
yo11 merchants, traders, soldiers, and people of every district.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

You must know that the 'Eagle Trade Dollar' that hae lately
come to Hong Kong has been jointly assayed by officers.
specially appointed for the purpose, and it can be taken in
payment of duties, and come into general circulation. You
must not look upon it with suspicion. At the same time
rogues, sharpers, and the like, arc hereby strictly forbidden to
fabricate spurious imitations of this new Eagle Dollar, with a
view to their own profit.
"And should they dare to set this prohibition at defiance,
and fabricate false coin, they shall, upon discovery, most
&Ssuredly be arrested and punished. Let every one obey with
trembling! Let there be no disobedience!
"A Special Proclamation. Tung Chih 12th year, 9th
moon-day (October, 1873.)
" Translated by
" (Signed)
WALTER C. HILLIER.''
JAPAN.

Perhaps the peculiar adaptability of the Japanese character·
cannot be better illustrated than by their late monetary revolution, especially as their coinage is hedged around with laws,
with penal attachments of no douhtful character. In the
small morocco case marked "Japan" are a few specimens of
their original coin. Of this series the large goltl plate, four
inches by three arnl a half, is known as the "Gold Ohan,"
their most valuable coin, worth about seventy-five dollars.
This coin is of perfectly smooth surface, with an elaborate
black inscription of Japanese text, burnt in by a chemical
process. To take the "Gold Ohan" out of the kingdom is
punishable with death; to remove it by mistake, suhjccts the
offender to imprisonment for life. The other coins in this case
are, in their composition and shape, as distinctive as the Japanese are peculiar as a people. The progressive character of the
Japanese is exemplified by their recent acceptance of the
United States system of coinage.
The mind of the Japanese proletaire has been much trouble,!
in recent years with regard to the coinage of his country; not
that he ever has much of the currency in question, but the
Japanese proletaire has no pockets, and he finds it awkward to
carry in his hands such coins as he contrives to possess. In
ancient times his rulers were more considerate. They punched
square holes in the centre of the coins, through which he
passed a string, and was thus able to carry about his available
capital tied around his neck or to his waistband, which in those

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OP'

days was his sole garment. The coins were not large in amount;
it took a thousand of them to make a few shillings, while a
cart was required to convey five dollars worth. But with
civilization came an improved coinage, larger in value, and
with no holes, and the pocketless proletaire naturally grumbled
that civilization treated him hardly in this respect. Paper
currency for small amounts partially satisfied him for a time;
but at last his cries have been heard, and the Japanese Government has promised to issue a new coin specially for his behoof.
Its value is rather less than one cent, and is to possess the indispensable hole, by which he can string it as a child strings
beads, and he is probably content.
TURKEY.

Turkish coins often bear texts from the Koran on either
side, so it may be said the tenets of their religion are their
circulating medium. The piastres in this collection are generally those now in circulation.
EGYPT.

Egypt's antique coins were of Greek or Roman workmanship, of which the very finest is in the case marked "Selections," and has not its superior for interest or beauty in the
world. It was the work of some Greek artist, and presents
the head of Arsinoe, wife of Ptolemy. It was found in 1868,
and bought by the United States Government at a high price;
but as only three had been found, its market value may be
named by thousands, though its metal value is not more than
twenty dollars.
This notice of Oriental coins may conclude with suggestive
reference to the "Cufic coins," of which there are some valuable specimens. The first is the silver dirhem of Walid, the
eccentric caliph of Damascus, A. D. 713. There is also in case
XV. a coin of the reign of Haroun Alraschid.
FRENCH COINAGE.

The French have the credit of making the greatest improve, ments in modern coinage. The French coins are a history of
that nation, from the small coin issued in the reign of Louis
" the Meek " to the last currency of the republic of France,
spanning a period of one thousand years.
In design and execution the French coins bear the impress
of the ·national character, and also give assurance of the art
patronage in which her rulers, failing in much, have never
wavered, but brought all their power and cunning to bear on

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

securing the best artists, as in the instance of Francis I. beguiling from the holy father that exquisite artist Benvenuto
Cellini, or the· later enterprise of Napoleon Bonaparte. No.
83,-a medalet of the unhappy Marie Antoinette,-which is
in itself very beautiful, and from its tragic association attracts
general interest.
GERMANY.
The collection of Germany is very large and divided and
sub-divided by its kingdoms and principalities.
One of the most interesting coins of any age, and excelling
in beauty as well, is the gold medallic ducat on which are the
heads of Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon. This coin
is very generally admired by visitors to the Cabinet.
Corns OF SWITZERLAND.
Switz~rland is modestly represented in all her cantons, each,
like the classic Greek town, enjoying th~ coining privilege.
There are several pieces of commemorative and artistic worth,
especially the two issues of the :republic of 1796.
RussIAN Corns.
The double rouble, with a magnificent draped head of Peter
the Great, is unexcelled for strength of outline, and valuable
as a correct portrait of one of the very greatest and most selfreliant of modern rulers. Turning to another rouble, the
features of Elizabeth II. are recognized. It may be assumed,
with all due deference to royalty, that this portrayal is the
most laughter-provoking figure ever stamped on metal. She
is so fat as to have the effect of "spreading herself" all over
the coin. Another rouble presents the majestic Catherine II.
Ot the coins marked Denmark, Norway, Sweden, there
can be only the copper half-daler of Sweden mentioned. This
coin is four inches square, weighs about twelve ounces, and is
equivalent to a United States silver half-dollar. The daler of
Sweden, thaler of Germany, dollar of Spain and America, are
a.II synonymous terms.
ENGLAND.
The first coins of Great Britain were of tin, according to
Cresar's authority, who mentions the "tin money of Britain,"
which has lately been sustained by the discovery, in some work
of excavation, of coins of that metal in antique design. These
coins are, however, of little use, by reason of the obscure inscription, or rather the frequent absence of all device.
The English collection in the Cabinet begins with a. coin
made after the stater of Greece, presenting the head of Minerva,

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

with Greek helmet on obverse, while the reverse gives thefigure of a woman most crudely drawn. It is supposed this
rude attempt at art was coined about the time of the Roman
invasion. Note the contrast presented in placing this relic by
the side of the Victorian sovereign, where, on the obverse, is.
the queen's head superbly cut; on the reverse, Wyon's inimitable figure of Una and the Lion. These two coins are the
Alpha and the Omega of British coinage, while the thousands issued between them are progressive links to civilization.
Two small coins are placed here, thought to be contemporary with the Christian era, having no device, but an attempt.
to portray the sun on one side. No. 2 is the skeattae of
Ethelbert I, king of Saxony, and is the first Saxon coin which
has yet been appropriated. It bears upon the obverse the,
head of the king; on the reverse is the figure of a bird.
Next in interest is No. 6, the penny of William the Conqueror. The bust of that famous monarch is attempted;.
1068 is about the year it is supposed to have been made.
During the three centuries following, the condition of England,
whether she was at peace or war, is plainly indicated by her coinage. Every added province is memorialized in coin. The
rose, thistle, and fleur-de-lis, all tell in strange language for
flowers of bloody battles, long sieges, perils by the sea and
land; at last all resistance bowing before the ever-increasing
power of Great Britain.
The first coin of English issue was dated in 1553, being
either the close of Edward VI.'s or the beginning of Queen
Mary's reign. This is claimed by many to be the first coin
dated, though old medals of the preceding century have been
found with date.
In 1558, the ryal or royal of Queen Elizabeth was issued.
On the obverse the queen is grandly enthroned, while thereverse is a large rose, in the centre of which are the Danish
arms of Britain, and the arms of Anjou quartered. Thia
coin and the pound sterling of Charles I. are in Case XV.,
'' Selections."
This pound sterling is one of the famous "siege pieces,,.
of that unhappy king,-which were often made on the field
with hammer and anvil out of the family plate brought to theclosely-pressed Stuart by his faithful followers. It is to be
regretted that so much valuable family plate of no mean workmanship was thus sacrificed. This "siege piece" is. 1ihe
largest silver coin known. The legend upon it, rudely inscribed, is, "Let God arise; let his enemies be scattered;.••
above are three fleurs-de-lis, with date, "1642.''

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In 1684-88, during the short reign of James II., several
varieties of new coins were introduced, notably, "Maundy
Money," a small coin made to be distributed by the king
on "Maundy Thursday." Beggars, on that day, received
from his majesty bags containing as many maundy pieces as
the king had lived years.
•
King James II. also had issued "gun money." This
variety was made out of old cannon, after the suppression of
an Irish rebellion. Though not even giving a glance towards
the interesting series of Queen Anne, it is impossible to pass
unnoticed the beautiful bust of George IV., by Chantrey,
upon a pattern five-sovereign piece. This well-executed bust
of "the handsomest man in Europe,''. was said to be the
means of Sir Francis Chantrey being knighted. That vain
monarch was as careful about how his face would appear to
future generations as was Alexander of Macedon; and Chantrey well knew if he placed upon the shoulders of sixty years
the head of forty years, he had given the cabalistic words.
which would be the "open sesame" to royal favor.
The gold sovereign of Victoria, Nos. 183-184, has, on thereverse, an evidence of coins as a deposit of law archives.
·The shield surrounded by a crown, and bearing the arms of
Great Britian quartered; but the arms of Hanover are omitted~
Although Victoria was next heir to William IV., she was prevented by the Salic law from assuming the sceptre of Hanover.
On this coin, it may be remembered, are very beautifully presented the rose, the thistle, and the shamrock.
A recent addition has been made to the Mint Cabinet of a.
very fine sovereign of the times of Oliver Cromwell, purchased
at the coin sale of May 14 and 15, 1885.
·
Scotch moneys of any variety, are very much prized by
collectors (see, in Case XV., "Selections," "Groat of Robert
Bruce, 1602.") A very rare coin is the penny of Robert II.
of Scotland, said to be the only specimen in existence of that
monarch's reign. In the seventeenth century the coinage of
Scotland merged into that of England.
ENGLISH SILVER TOKENS,

issued in England, Scotland, and Ireland. '' During the long
suspension of specie payments, occasioned by the wars with.
Napoleon, the minor currency of England was supplied, not
with small paper notes, but with silver tokens, issued by banks
and traders, and made redeemable in bank notes. They
11Vere of roouced weight, to keep within the premium, and to

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

prevent hoarding. They continued to circulate until the return of better times and of regular silver coinage. There
were many varieties, most of which are here.
PORTUGAL AND SPAIN.

The coinage of Portugal and Spain in the fifteenth century,
held greater sway than that of other countries. Of their coins,
there are many fine specime11s in the Mint Cabinet. The "joe
and half-joe *" of Portugal are known of all nations, while the
Spanish dollar, with its pretentious two globes under a crown,
did not claim too much, and only tells the almost limitless rule
<Jf the great Philip. The coins of these nations became, through
their possessions in the New World, the circulating medium of
that portion of the earth. Spanish and Mexican dollars were
:almost synonymous, while the real and joe of South America.
was patterned after that of Portugal, which fact can be learned
in this Cabinet. As nations decay it will be seen their coins
become inevitably less trustworthy ; even a glance at the cases
marked " Portugal," " Spain," will give this lesson. In the
Mexican collection there are issues which seem to contradict
this assertion, for the " Mexican dollar " has, for generations,
had a position in the monetary world of almost unchallenged
credit, yet not by reason of the recognition given Mexico, but
because of the United States using it so extensively; for, until
the introduction of the " trade dollar," this country had no
currency that would meet the demand of the Oriental market.
MEXICO.

The Mexicans use only gold and silver, and their national
series is full of tragic interest, embracing, as it does, three and
a half centuries of Mexican history, from Cortez to Maximilian.
The "pillar dollar," "windmill dollar," "cast dollar" (the
Mexicans are the only nation that cast money), and the "cob
money" (a series so called by reason of its clumsiness), are all
to be seen in this collection.
Corns OF BRAZIL.
One coin, a gold "half-joe," issued in 1832, with the infant
head of DoDjl Pedro, is very beautiful. By the side of this, in
every way a contr&Bt to it, is a series of copper coins of a late
issue with the head of the " child " now seated on the throne.
•"In box, three pictures (miniatures), two half jou, two small piece• of gold," Dec.
16, 1780.-Martha Washington. These were sent to he used in the manufacture of tbe
miniature cases for the above pictures. This Jetter Is in the possession ot R. Coultor.
D&Tia, 1:'h. G., of thla city.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

The coins of Bolivia proudly present the bust of Simon
Bolivar. Among the West Indies are many samples of " cut
money." The law permitting money to be quartered had to
be repealed, because the traders of the West Indies made the
wonderful mathematical discovery that five quarters make a
whole!

*

*

*

*

*'

*

*

Leaving both the eastern and the western world and their_
coins, there is a single piece, of small commercial valne, which
is yet a light-house in mid-ocean." This is the one cent of the
Sandwich Islands, the only venture of that kind made by the
enterprising little kingdom. The inscription is "Kamehameha
III., one hundredth, Hawaii." The name of the king being
interpreted signifies "the solitary one," which is singularly
well adapted to the coin.
COLONIAL Corns.

In 1684, the charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company
was revoked, and the governor recalled ; one of the alleged
grievances by the crown was a colonial law concerning the
Mint. The currency used by the _colonies was chiefly from
England, Spain, and Portugal, but the supply was limited from
these sources, and the mother-country was jealous of any infringement of her prerogative of coinage. There are various
specimens of the "pine-tree" money of Massachusetts in the
Cabinet. Some doubt has arisen as to the species of tree
intended, but it is generally accepted as the emblematic pine.
This is claimed to be about the second colonial issue, a kind of
semi-official coin. The first was from the Bermudas.* It is
a shilling piece, stamped by one John Hall, silversmith, of
the city of Boston, 1652, who made a very good speculation of
the privilege. There has lately been added to the Cabinet a sixpence of this rare money. The work on this species of coins is so
exceedingly simple as to present little save a planchet. On the
obverse, a double ring around a pine-tree; legeDd, " Massachusetts in;" and on the reverse, a double ring also, containing
the legend, " New England An Dom. t"
Charles II., it appears, was easily deceived in regard to the
significance of the "pine-tree shilling." Sir Thomas Temple,
a friend of the colonies, adroitly presented one of these obnoxious coins to the irate monarch, explaining that the tree
• This iMue being made at Sommer Islancb, gave the nameof"Sommer money."
The old story of the weighing of John Hall'• daughter on her marrla~ay is re- ,
ca Jed In seeing these coins. Ber dowry was her weight In "pine-tree" shlllings; and
\he suggestion is allowable that these specimens formed a part of the portion of the
\lushing bride two centuries ago.

!

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

was the "royal oak" which had saved his majesty's life,
Whereupon the king, laughing, denominated his trans-Atlantic
subjects "honest dogs," and allowed the coinage to proceed.
During the reign of George I. a new species of coin was
issued from the English Mint, denomination half penny,
and it is asserted upon good authority that this was the only
issue ever authorized by the home government for general circulation in the colonies. It was a coin of mixed metal, resembling brass. The head of the king was on the obverse;
inscription, " Georgi us Rex." The reverse, a large double
rose under a crown; legend, "Rosa Americana." Upon a
scroll, "Utile Dulci.*"
"Peltry," we learn, was one of the principal articles of
currency, and was known as "pelt," or Massachusetts currency, and was extensively used in trading between Indians
and whites, sometimes called "Beaver Money," "Corne,
Wheate, Barley, and Rye;" and a still more quaint currency
was established, as will be found in an old Massachusetts court
order, as follows : "It is likewise ordered that muskett balletts
of a full boare shall passe current for a f artlting a peece, provided that noe man be compeUed to take above 12d. att a
tyme of them"
In Maryland, not only cattle, tobacco, and other produce
was accepted as currency, but powder and shot were also included. Lord Baltimore, in 1660, sent over to Maryland the
"Baltimore" shilling. In the colonial case there is a series
of these exceedingly rare coins. They were a shilling, sixpence, groats, and are all of the same design, differing only
in denomination. They were coined in London, and compare
favorably with any minting of that age. The bust of Lord
Baltimore on the obverse is very well cut; his name "Cecil,"
is the legend. On the reverse, the coat of arms of Cecil,
Lord Baltimore, is given; this device has been re-adopted by
the State of Maryland. The substitution of any legal tender
seems to be fraught with· danger, and at best is jealously
scanned by the people; and there was trouble to put this coin
into circulation. The people, though demanding coin, did
not yield their old currency of "wheat, corn, tobacco, powder,
and shot," without a demonstration. The Carolinas, Virginia,
and New Hampshire all followed Maryland in the introduction
of a colonial coinage.
In the interval of the Revolution, known as the Confederacy, the growth of the spirit of independence in the people
• This is the coin which caused such excitement and so much feeling in Ireland, and
which Dean Swilt attacked from the pulpit.

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--------------------------

is plainly written on their coins, especially upon their tokens
or individual coins. We notice one inscription attributed to
Franklin, "Mind your business;" and others, such as "Good
copper," "Gut your way through," and like characteristic expressions. The "New York Doubloon" was coined in 1787,
value sixteen dollars. This coin is highly esteemed by reason
of its rarity, and its market value to-day is about five hundred
dollars, as only three or four are known ~-o be in existence.
The Washington cent of 1791 (so-called) was not a coin of
the United States, but was struck at a private mint in Birmingham, England, (Boulton's), partly, no doubt, to bespeak
the "job," and partly to please Americans generally.
It has been said that Washington objected to putting his
head on the coins, and it may be true; but it was also objected
that no man's head should appear on the coin of a republic,
which, whether good doctrine or not, is still the prevailing
idea. The "cent of 1791" is of two types, one very rare
and costly, with a small eagle. The other, with a large eagle,
is more common, and perhaps sells for about five dollars at
a public coin sale.
UNITED STATES Corns.
The first copper coins made by the United States Mint were
one cent and one-half cent issues, of which there were four
designs: 1st, the " chain cent; '' 2d, the " wreath cent; '' 3d,
the "flowing hair;" and 4th, the "liberty cap," which was
used for a number of years. The "chain" device was not
acceptable to the sensitive American mind, and of consequence the accidental breaking of the die was not a subject of
regret, but "quite the contrary." 'l'he pattern sections of
United States coins are very beautiful and varied, especially
those in gold.
THE TRADE DOLLAR.

This coin bears on the obverse a female figure seated on
bales of merchandise, holding in her left hand a scroll on
which is the word "liberty." At her back is a sheaf of
wheat; this and the bales of goods indicate the commercial
character of the coin. Her right hand, extended, offers the
olive branch. On a scroll beneath the figure are the words
"In God we trust," and the date below, "1873." The reverse has a circling inscription, " United States of America,
Trade Dollar." In the centre is an eagle, in his claws three
arrows and a sprig of olive. On a label above are the words
"E Pluribus Unum." Below, "420 grains fine," very beautiful in design.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

HISTORY OF THE TRADE DOLLAR.

The coinage of the Trade Dollar was authorized by act of
February 12, 1873, and was not intended for circulation in
the United States, but for export to China.
It was designed to compete with the Spanish and Mexican
dollar. That empire, having no mint for the coinage of gold
or silver, depended upon foreign coin for it.s domestii circulation, and until the institution of the Trade Dollar· the principal shipments of coin to China were in the form of Mexican
dollars.
The Trade Dollar was made a trifle more valuable than the
American and Mexican dollar, thus not only affording a
market for the surplus silver of the mines of the Pacific Coast,
but furnishing merchants and importers from China. with silver
in a convenient form for payment for commodities, instead of
their being obliged to. purchase Mexican dollars for thai.
purpose..
.
When it.s coinage was authorized it was inadvertently made
a legal tender to amount of five dollars, but this was repealed
by section 2, Act of Ju1y 22, 1876.
BRIEF HISTORY OF _THE STANDARD SILVER DOLLAR.

Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight,
416 grains, standard silver; fineness, 892.4; equivalent to
371¼ grains of fine silver, with 44! grains alloy of pure
copper.
Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 412½ grains,
and fineness changed to 900, preserving the same amount of
pure silver= 371¼ grains, with fo alloy.
Coinage discontinued, Act of February 12, 1873.
Tota.I amount coined, from 1792 to 1873, $8,045,838.
Coinage revived, two million dollars per month required to
be coined, and issue made legal tender for all debts, public and
private, Act of February 28, 1878.
Total amount coined, February 28, 1878, to November 1,
1884, $184,730,829.
PACIFIC COAST.

The semi-official coins of the Pacific coast present quite a
glittering array of monetary enterprise, and signify the great
wealth and daring spirit of that part of the world. The fiftydollar octagon gold piece, issued in 1851, is a very beautiful
coin. "Gold slugs" are novelties; are oblong gold pieces,

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THE UNITED STATES MINT,

and are valued at sixteen dollars. The Utah coins also attract
attention. They are of gold, fine. The device is an " allseeing eye" and two clasped hands; reverse, "a bee-hive,"
with inscription, " Holiness to the Lord." Some have for
legend, "G. S. L. C. P. G.," which the initiated receive as
"Great Salt Lake City, Pure Gold."
The series of the United States coins is complete, and can
be readily examined. The changes have been very gradual.
The motto, "In God we trust," was introduced in 1866.
There is one specimen which illustrates how a coin may become famous without the least premonition, and also is a witness
of the positive law which protects and governs coinage. A law
passed Congress in 1849 ordering twenty-dollar gold pieces to
be issued. One piece was struck. Something intervened to
delay the work, and the year closed ; then, of course, the dies
had to be destroyed, as no more could be lawfully issued of
1849. The coin just beside this, marked 1850, of same value,
is not worth the collector's consideration, while "1849" .cannot to be purchased. It is marked "umque," and is really
the only one in gold. One specimen exists in brass.
COINS OF THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY.

It has been said and repeated as a historical fact that the
Southern Confederacy had no metallic currency. After a
lapse of eighteen years the following official document from
the Confederate archives explains itself; and substantiates the
fact that silver to a limited extent was coined at the New Orleans Mint by order of the Confederate Government, in the
early days of the rebellion, and only suspended operations on
account of the difficulty in obtaining bullion for coinage.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
.ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, .
WASHINGTON, March 27, 1879.
DR. B. F. TAYLOR,

New Orlmns, La.
DEAR Sm :-The enclosed circular will explain to you the nature of the
dnties upon which I am now engaged; I would like to have from you,
from file with confederate archives, a letter stating when you were appointed Chier Coiner of the Confederate States Mint, instructions received
copies of the originals of any official papers, sketches, descriptions, etc.'
of all the coins made, etc. This will make a valuable addition to Con-,
federate history, and I know no one but you can give it.
Very truly yours,
MARCUS J. WRIGHT.
NEW ORLEANS, LA., April 7, 1879.
To HoN. MA1tcus J. WRIGHT.
DEAR Sm :-Your favor requesting a statement of the history of the
New Orleans Mint, in reference to the coinage under the Confederate

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

Government, is received. That institution was turned over by the State
of Louisiana, the last of February, 18611 to the Confederate States of
America, the old officers being retained and confirmed by the government,
viz.: Wm. A. Elmore, Superintendent; A. J. Guyrot, Treasurer; M. F.
Bonzano, M. D., Melter and Refiner; and Howard Millspaugh, Assayer.
In the month of April, orderR were issued by Mr. Memminger, Secretary of
the Treasury, to the effect that designs for half-dollars should be submitted
to him for approval. Among several sent, the one approved bore on the
-obverse of the coin a representation of the Goddess of Liberty, surrounded
by thirteen stars, denoting the thirteen States from · whence the Confederacy sprung, and on the lower rim the figures, 1861. On the reverse
there is a shield with seven stars, representing the seceding States; above
the shield is a liberty-cap, and entwined around it stalks of sugar cane and
cotton, "Confederate States of America." The dies were engraved by A.
H. M. Peterson, Engraver and Die Sinker, who is now living in Commercial Place. They were prepared for the coining press by Conrad Schmidt,
foreman of the coining room (who is still living), from which four pieces
only were struck. About this period an order came from the secretary
suspending operations on account of the difficulty of obtaining bullion,
and the Mint was closed April 30, 1861.
Of the four pieces mentioned, one was sent to the Government, one presented to Prof. Biddle, of the University of Louisiana, one sent to Dr. E.
Ames of New Orleans, the remaining one being retained by myself.
Upon diligent inquiry I am unable to find but one piece besides my own,
that being in the possession of a Confederate officer of this city, who transmitted it to his son as a souvenir of his father's in the Confederate cause.
So soon as copies are made I will take pleasure in sending you a specimen for the archives you represent.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
B. F. TAYLOR, M. D.
Fcrrmerly Chief Coiner 0. S. A.

The most notable and valuable silver coin is the dollar of
1804. It is said that the scarcity of this dollar was owing to
the sinking of a China-bound vessel having on board almost the
entire mintage of the 1804 dollars in lieu of the Spanish milled
dollars. It is believed that there are not more than seven, possibly eight, genuine 1804 dollars extant. The rarity of the
piece and the almost fabulous prices offered for it are patent
facts.
SKETCH OF THE 1804 DOLLAR.*
This coin among collectors is known as the " king of Ameriean rarities." But seven or eight pieces are known to exist.
The 1804 dollars are of two classes, to wit: first, originals,
which are from but one obverse and one reverse die,-draped
bust of Liberty facing right; the head bound with a fillet; hair
:flowing; 6 stars before and 7 behind the bust above LIBERTY,
upper right hand star almost touching letter y ; reverse heraldic eagle bearing on his breast a broad shield, in his beak a
scroll, inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM; 12 arrows in right talon,
a branch of olive in left; above, an arc of clouds from wing to
• From Chapman's Collection Catalogue, May 14-15, pp. 24-25.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

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wing of eagle; in field beneath 13 stars; UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA; edge lettered ONE HUNDRED CENTS,
ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT, which are lightly struck in some
parts. The first specimen in the Mint Cabinet weighs 415.2
grs.; second, Mr. M. A. Stickney procured from the Mint in
1843 in exchange for other coins; third, W. S. Appleton
bought, at an advance of $750, in 1868, from E. Cogan, who
purchased it from W. A. Lilliendahl, who bought it at a sale
<>f collection of J. J. Mickley, 1867, for $750; fourth, L. G.
Parmelee bought, at sale of E. IL Sandford's collection, 1874,
for $700, who obtained it in 1868 from an aged lady, who got
it at the Mint many years before; fifth, W. B. Wetmore
bought of Mr. Parmelee, 1868, for $600, from sale of H. S.
Adams' collection, 1876, at $500, from sale of M. J. Cohen's
collection, 187 5, at $325 (in fair condition) ; sixth, present
<>wner unknown to us, formerly in possession of collection of
Mr. Robert C. Davis, of Philadelphia, and recently sold for
$1200 ; seventh, S. H. and H. Chapman purchased October,
1884, at a sale in Berlin, and resold to a Mr. Scott, a dealer in
eoins, for $1000 at their Philadelphia sale, in May, 1885.
Restrikes. There were struck at the Mint in 1858 restrikes
with plain edges, of which three were recovered after. diligent
search; two of these were n.estroyed in the Mint, and the other
placed in the Cabinet, where it remains .. The difference between these and the originals are as follows : obverse, the
<>riginal die was re-cut in the word LIBERTY, the stars and date,
which made them larger and deeper, especially noticeable in
the stars, which are broadened; also in the date, it making
the outline sharp and square, whereas in the originals they are
somewhat rounded ; reverse, not having the original ,lie, they ·
used another, which differs in many respects, most easily noticeable in that the A touches the eagle's claw, the OF much
nearer of the end of eagle's wing than S in States (in the
<>riginal it is equally spaced); edge, plain ; weight, 381.5
grains. One specimen is in the Mint and another in England,
-struck between 1860 and 1869, as in the latter year all dies
remaining were destroyed, same as the above, but endeavors
were made to letter the edges i~ the absence of a complete
collar by using pieces of collars which did not contain all the
letters, but repeated some of them several times. There was
one of these pieces sold in the Berg collection in 1883 for
$7 40, and showed all the peculiarities mentioned, and its
weight was said to be inaccurate. The dies were destroyed in
the winter of 1868-69. No counterfeit dies of the 1804 dollar were ever made. After the close of each year all dies are
now destroyed.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

DOUBLE EAGLE.

Among the rare coins in the Cabinet at the Mint is a Double
Eagle. The dies for this piece were made in 1849, and only
one was struck. "UNIQUE" and beyond price. There is also
11 Quarter Eagle of 1842, and the only one known extant at
the Mint.

SELECTIONS.
Having referred many times to this case, it may be as well
to append the entire list of its contents, as they, almost without exception, are rare, spanning the world from remotest
antiquity to the present day, beginning with the gold Daric of
Darius, and ending with the twenty-mark piece of Kaiser-

W~~.

-

GREECE.

1. Four drachma, Athens, B. c. 500; 2. Oboloi of Athens;.
3. One-half obolos, 1¼ of a cent; 4. Daric, Darius, of Persiar
B. c. 520, value, five dollars and fifty cents ; 5. Silver Daric ;.
6.. Brass Ob. Berenice, B. c. 284 ; 7. Ptolemy and Berenice►
copy; 8. Maneh of Ptolemy Philadelphus, B. c. 284, value►
$17.70; 9. Drachma, Cyrene, B. c. 322; 10. Coin of Syracuse, copy, about B. c. 300; 11. Silver coin, Bactria, B. c.
126 ; 12. Brass of Bactria, B. c. 180 ; 13. Cleopatra, B. c.
30; 13a. Denarius of Cleopatra and Mark Antony; 14. Alexander the Great, B. c. 36; 15. Philip, B. c. 323; 16. Stater
of Seleucus; 17. Alexander Balas, B. c. 150; 18. Antiochus.
VI ; 19. Philip, King of Syria, B. c. 93.
ROME.

20. Roman aes, B. c. 500; 21. Denarius of Augustus, B. o.
31 ; 22. Tiberius, A. D. 14; 23. Simon, Bar Cochab, false
Christ, A. D. 133; 24. Vespasian, A. D. 49 ; 25. Gold bezants,
A. D. 610; 26. Justinian, A. D. 527; 26a. Kingdom of Cyprus
and Jerusalem, Peter 1, 1361 to 1372, testoon, Kingdom of
Jerusalem; 26b. Amaury II., 1194 to 1205.
ENGLISH.

27. Gold of Britain; 28. Carausius, Roman Emperor of
Britain, A. D. 287 ; 29. Penny of Ethelbert, King of Kent, 858

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

30. Harold the Dane, A. D. 1036; 31. William the
Conqueror, 1066, A, D.; 32. Edward the Confessor, A. D.
1041 ; 33. Robert the Bruce, A. n. 1306; 34. Elizabeth,
Double Ryal, A. D. 1558; 35. James I, 1603, Ryal (30 shillings) and sovereign; 36. Charles I, sovereign; 37. Siege
pound of Charles I, 1642 ; 37 a. Gold sovereign of Oliver
Cromwell ; 38. Crown, and half crown and shilling, Oliver
Cromwell, 1658; 38a. Farthing, Queen Anne; 39. George
IV ; 40. Coins of Australia.
A: D.;

FRANCE.

41. Deniers of Charlemagne 806; 42. Meda let, Marie Antoinette; 43. Five francs, Napoleon I; 44. Gold, Napoleon I,
1851; 45. Five francs, Paris Commune.
GERMANY.

46. Bracteats; 47. ,German Crown, Ob. St. Stephen; 48.
Ducat, Ob. Luther and Melancthon, 1730; 49. Crown, Maximilian, A. D. 1615; 50. Ducat, Nuremburg; 51. Ducat Hamburg; 52. Monument, Bavaria; 53. King's family, Bavaria;
54. Coins of Prussia; 55. Silver piece, Frederick William
and Augusta.
SPAIN.

56. Ferdinand and Isabella; 57. Charles II., Spain; 58.
Alphonso, Spain.
ITALY.

59. Silver of Venice under the Doges, twelfth century;
60. Ducat of Venice; 61. Copper of San Marino; 62. Silver
piece of Lombardy; 63. Gold twenty lira piece; 64. Swiss
crown, ob. St. Vincent; 65. African shell money; 66. African
ring money.
ORIENTAL.

67. Siamese coins; 68. Chinese tael; 69. Widow's mite;
70. Jewish shekel; 70a. Herod the Great, 37 B. c.; 70b.
Herod Archelaus, 4 B. c.; 71. Glass coin, Egypt; 72. Gold
of Alnaser, A. D. 1222; 73. Dirhem of Mahome~ V., A. D,
854; 74. Dir hem of Walid, Caliph of Damascus, A. D. 713;

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-68

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

75. Haroun Alraschid, Koran text, 806; 76. Fire Worshippers, A. D. 300; 77. Gold of Japan, 1634; 78. Gravel stone
-of Burmah; 79. Late coin of Turkey; 80. Mexican dollar
used in China; 81. Coin of Cochin China.
Tne most notable coin in this case, and perhaps the most
•celebrated coin in the world, is the "Widow's Mite." Its
name bespeaks its commercial insignificance. Yet visitors every
ilay, upon entering the Cabinet of the Mint, ask first to see the
"Widow's Mite.''
The following letter from Wm. E. Du Bois, will be found of
interest to the reader.
THE WIDOW'S MITE.
SIR: The curators of the mint cabinet do not consent to the intimation
in a statement recently made that their widaw's mit.e is not the real coin.
The exprei;sion of a doubt as to any-received fact is thought to be a sign
of superior insight. Hence we have so much "destructive criticism," a
good deal of it being fatal to the critio himself.
The widow's mite in our showcase of specialties, always attracting much
.attention, is precisely what the Scriptures speak of-a lepton, the smallest
of Greek and Syriac coins. The name comes from lepws, very small. The
word "mite" is English, and was formerly a weight representing the
twentieth part of a grain, but has long fallen into disuse. It was employed
-in the translation of the New Testament to represent the word lepton, simply because it was so very small.
l t is pretty certain that there was no Jewish or Hebrew coin so small as
the lepwn,· that people depended very much upon outside coins for their
-circulation. Even their money terms had changed to those of the SyrianGreek Empire and of .Rome, as we see from all the instances in the New
Testament. What few copper or bronze pieces they had, struck by local
princes for a limited time, and now very rare, were large enough to bear a
·show of devices and inscriptions, for which the lepton was too minute. The
one in our cabinet has a diameter of only three-tenths of an inch, and
weighs but ten grains. On one side nothing is discernible, on the other a
mint monogram, such as were common in that era, occupies the space. It
is much like the letter x, with a line crossing it near the top. Whether it
is Samaritan, or Syriac, or Greek, we cannot be sure; nor is it of any con·1lequence. It is enough to show that it is a coin, and belongs to the age
shortly before and after the advent of Christ, and its size proves it to be a
lepwn.
It is an interesting and confirmatory fact, that this piece was found
-among the rubbish of the Temple grounds, by Dr. Barclay, long resident
in Jerusalem, and author of "The City of the Great King." By him it was
presented to the mint cabinet. The objector may soberly doubt whether
this was one of the identical mites offered by the widow ; for the rest of his
doubts they are of no value.
We are often asked how much this famous offering amounted to? There
is some obscurity and confusion about their coin-tables, and, therefore, some
variety in the estimation. We may say, however, that the current value
·of the lepton, or mite, was about one-fifth of a cent in our money; being
eighty to the drachma or denarius, which was 16 or 15 cents.
But as the purchasing or paying power of a drachma was probably as
great in that day and country as a dollar is in ours, we may say that the
value of a lepton, judge?, by our ideas, was.about one cent. As the treasurer
would not take a less gift than two lepta, 1t follows that the poor but very
liberal woman contributed fully two cents, which is more than some
.persons-neither poor nor in widowhood-throw into the church basket.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

It is worth while to add that a visitor at the mint saw a similar piece in
Jerusalem, and tried to obtain one, bat on account of its rarity did not
succeed.

W.E.D.
DONATIONS OF OLD COINS.
&ra£tfrom the American Journal af Numismatir,s, April, 1884.
Under the head of donatwns, we have from Quartermaster General Meigs,.
a half-dollar and pistareen of Carolus and Johana of Spain. These pieces
were presented to General Meigs at Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1870. The
special interest attached to them, is their having been found on the beach
of Padre Island, off the southerly coast of Texas. The supposition is that.
they were washed up from a sunken treasure ship wrecked on the coast,
while carrying funds to the Army of Cortez, who entered the City of Mexico
in 1519. Their good condition may warrant our accepting this briny
romance Oum gmno salis. Antiquarian stories must expect to stand the
test of the chemist, as well as of the historian. This reminds me, however,
of some specimens of the Mint Cabinet, from the wreck of the 8an Pedro,
some account of which may not be uninteresting here.* "Early in 1815, a
naval armament was fitted ont in Spain, by .Ferdinand VII., for the purposeof reducing the Rebellious Colonies in South America. The military forceof this expedition amounted to ten thousand men, of whom two thousand
v•ere on board the flag ship "San Pedro." The vessel was also freighted toa large amount with gunpowder, cannon balls and specie."
The account then goes on to state that the fleet touched at the Island of
Marguerita near the coast of Venezuela. After leaving the island, the vessel
took fire, burnt four hours until the magazine caught and exploded, and
the wreck went down with four hundred men. The right of working the·
wreck, was granted abont thirty years after, to a Baltimore Companv, known
as the "San Pedro Company." Divers were set to work, and the wreck
found in sixty feet of water on a hard bed of coral. Over this there was a.
depo«it of mud, and again over this a layer of coral, which had to be pierced
to arrive at the treasure.
The Spanish dollars recovered were sent to Philadelphia, and (up to
September, 1848) about seventy-five thousand dollars had been recovered
and re-coined. The dollars were much corroded and encrusted, the coating
having first to be removed, to bring the pieces into fit condition for mint-ing; the loss from corrosion was considerable; :me dollar with the impression still visible, being redured to thirty-four cents in value. In the light
of these and other facts, it is difficult to conceive how the pieces fouI)d in
Texas, could have come so clean from their reputed berth, of over three
hundred years, but they are worth keeping for all that, and General Meigs
has the thanks of the Republic for them.
• From the proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, reported by Wm. E..
Du Bois, in October, 1845.

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-68

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

75. Haroun Alraschid, Koran text, 806; 76. Fire Worshippers, A. D. 300; 77. Gold of Japan, 1634; 78. Gravel stone
-of Burmah; 79. Late coin of Turkey; 80. Mexican dollar
used in China; 81. Coin of Cochin China.
Tlie most notable coin in this case, and perhaps the most
-celebrated coin in the world, is the "Widow's Mite." Its
name bespeaks its commercial insignificance. Yet visitors every
ilay, upon entering the Cabinet of the Mint, ask first to see the
"Widow's Mite."
The following letter from Wm. E. Du Bois, will be found of
interest to the reader.
THE WIDOW'S MITE.
Srn: The curators of the mint cabinet do not consent to the intimation
in a statement recentlv made that their widaw's mite is not the real coin.
The expression of doubt as to any-received fact ·is thought to be a sign
-of superior insight. Hence we have so much "destructive criticism," a
,good deal of it being fatal to the critic himself.
The widow's mite in our showcase of specialties, always attracting much
.attention, is precisely what the Scriptures speak of-a lepton, the smallest
of Greek and Syriac coins. The name comes from leptos, very small. The
word "mite" is English, and was formerly a weight representing the
twentieth part of a grain, but has long fallen into disuse. It was employed
in the translation of the New Testament to represent the word lepton, simply because it was so very small.
lt is pretty certain that there was no Jewish or Hebrew coin so small as
the lepton; that people depended very much upon outside coin~ for their
-circulation. Even their money terms had changed to those of the SyrianGreek Empire and of .Rome, as we see from all the instances in the New
Testament. What few copper or bronze pieces they had, struck by local
princes for a limited time, and now very rare, were large enough to bear a
,show of devices and inscriptions, for which the lepton was too minute. The
one in our cabinet has a diameter of only three-tenths of an inch, and
weighs but ten grains. On one side nothing is discernible, on the other a
mint monogram, such as were common in that era, occupies the space. ft
is much like the letter x, with a line crossing it near the top. Whether it
is Samaritan, or Syriac, or Greek, we cannot be sure; nor is it of any con.11equence. It is enough to show that it is a coin, and belongs to the age
·shortly before and after the advent of Christ, and its size proves it to be a
lepton.
It is an interesting and confirmatory fact, that this piece was found
-among the rubbish of the Temple grounds, by Dr. Barclay, long resident
in Jerusalem, and author of "The City of the Great King." By him it was
presented to the mint cabinet. The objector may soberly doubt whether
this was one of the identical mites offered by the widow ; for the rest of his
doubts they are of no value.
We are often asked how much this famous offering amounted to? There
is some obscurity and confusion about their coin-tables, and, therefore, some
variety in the estimation. We may say, however, that the current value
·of the lepton, or mite, was about one-fifth of a cent in our money; being
eighty to the drachma or denarius, which was 16 or 15 cents.
But as the purchasing or paying power of a drachma was probably as
great in that day and country as a dollar is in ours, we may say that the
value of a lepton, judged by our ideas, was about one cent. As the treasurer
would not take a less gift than two lepta, it follows that the poor but very
liberal woman contributed fully two cents, which is more than some
.persons-neither poor nor in widowhood-throw into the church basket.

a

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

It is worth while to add that a visitor at the mint saw a similar piece in
Jerusalem, and tried to obtain one, but on account of its rarity did not
succeed.

W.E.D.
DONATIONS OF OLD COINS.

Extra£t,jrom the American Journal of NumismatiC-S, April, 1884.
Under the head of donations, we have from Quartermaster General Meigs,.
a half-dollar and pistareen of Carolus and Johana of Spain. These pieces
were presented to General Meigs at Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1870. The
special interest attached to them, is their having been found on the beach
of Padre Island, off the southerly coast of Texas. The supposition is that.
they were washed up from a sunken treasure ship wrecked on the coast,
while carrying funds to the Army of Cortez, who entered the City of Mexico
in 1519. Their good condition may warrant our accepting this briny
romance Cum gmno salis. Antiquarian stories must expect to stand the
test of the chemist, ns well as of the historian. This reminds me, however,
of some specimens of the Mint Cabinet, from the wreck of the 8an Pedro,
some account of which may not be uninteresting here.* "Early in 181,5, a
na\'al armament was fitted ont in Spain, by .Ferdinand VII., for the pnrpose·
of reducing the Rebellious Colonie8 in South America. The military forceof this expedition amounted to ten thousand men, of whom two thousand
v•ere on board the flag ship "San Pedro." The vessel was also freighted to
a large amount with gunpowder, cannon balls and specie."
The account then goes on to state that the fleet touched at the Island of
Marguerita near the coast of Venezuela. After leaving the island, the vessel
took fire, burnt four hours until the magazine caught and exploded, and
the wreck went down with four hundred men. The right of working the·
wreck, was granted abont thirty years after, to a Baltimore Company, known
as the "San Pedro Company." Divers were set to work, and the wreck
found in sixty feet of water on a hard bed of coral. Over this there was a.
depo«it of mud, and again over this a layer of coral, which had to lie pierced
to arrive at the treasure.
The SpaniRh dollars recovered were sent to Philadelphia, and (up to
September, 1848) about seventy-five thousand dollars had been recovered
and re-coined. The dollars were much corroded and encrusted, the coating·
having first to be removed, to bring the pieces into fit condition for minting; the loss from corrosion was considerable; one dollar with the impression still visible, being rednred to thirty-four cents in value. In the light
of these and other factR, it is difficult to conceive how the pieces fom)d in
Texas, could have come so clean from their reputed berth, of over three
hundred years, but they are worth keeping for all that, and General Meigs
has the thanks of the Republic for them.
• From the proccedini:s of the American Philosophical Society, reported by Wm. E..
Du Bois, in October, 1S4a,

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i

!
• !

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PLATE I.

NOVA CONSTELLATIO
•'QUL'{T," 1783.

8oHHER ISLAND
SHILLING. u HOOGIE."

NOVA CONSTELLATIO

"MARK."

1783.

NOVA CONSTELLATIO,
1.JDIUNE COLUHBIA.

NEW JERSEY
IHHUNIS.

CONFEDERATI("
INIKICA, BTC.

See description.

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PLATE IL

CoNNECTICUT CENT,
1787.

MASSACHUSETTS
H.u.F CENT. 1787.

NEW ENGLAND
ELEPHANT TOKEN.
VERY RARE. 1694.

MAsl!ACHUSETTS
CENT.

Goon

SAMARITAN
SHILLING, MAss.

NEWYORL

See deocription.

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D1911,zodbyGoogle

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

71

COLONIAL COINAGES.
NovA CoNsTELLATIO.
Obverse: An eye, the center of a glory, thirteen points
cross, equidistant; a circle of as many stars. Legend:
''NOVA CONSTELLATIO.''
Reverse: " U. S. 500 " inscribed in two lines, a wreath
surrounding. Legend: "LIBERTA.S JUSTITIA 1783." Border,
beaded; edge, leaf work. Known as the " Quint."
No. 2.-Obverse: An eye, around which a narrow, plain,
circular field; outside a glory, thirteen points cross, equidistant; a circle of as many stars. Legend: "NOVA CONSTELLATIO."
Reverse: "U. S. 1000 " inscribed in two lines, a wreath
surrounding. Legend: "LIBERTAS JUSTITIA 1783." Border,
a wreath of leaves; edge, leaf work ; silver; size, 21 ; weight,
270 grains. Known as the "Mark."
THE IMMUNE COLUMBIA.
Obverse: An eye, on a small, plain, circular field; from the
outside of the field radiates a glory of thirteen blunt points,
crossing, equidistant, the spaces between as many ·stars in a
circular constellation.
Legend: "NOVA CONSTELLATIO."
Border, serrated.
Revenie: The Goddess of Liberty, seated upon a paneled
cubic pedestal, facing right; her left hand is well extended and
balances the scales of justice. A short liberty staff, crowned
with a cap and bearing a flag, rests against her right shoulder,
e.nd is supported by the right hand. Legend: "IMMUNE
COLUMBIA." Exergue: the date 1785. Border, serrated;
edge, plain or milled; size, 17; weight, gold, 128.8 grains;
silver, 92 grains; copper 148 grains.
BERMUDA SHILLING-{" B 0GGE-PENNY '').
Obverse: Device-A hog, standing, facing left, above
which are displayed the Roman numerals "XII.," the whole
,urrounded by a beaded circle. Legend: "SOMMER ISLANDS"
11,round which is a beaded circle like that enclosing the device.
Reverse: Device-A full-rigged ship under sail to the left,
a flag flying from each of her four masts-enclosed in a beaded
eircle, the beads larger than on the obverse. Copper; size,
19; weight, 177 grains.

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72

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF
NEW JERSEY !MMUNIS.

Obverse: Goddess of Liberty, seated upon a globe, facing
right; in her extended left hand the scales of justice; right
han<l staff of liberty bearing a flag an<l crowned with a cap.
Legend: "IMMUNIS COLUMBIA." Exergue: "1786." Border, serrated; edge, plain; size, 18; weight, 160 grains.
Reverse: A shield argent, six pales gules, a chief azure.
Legend: "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
Border, serrated; edge,
plain; size, 18; weight, 160 grains.
·
CoNFEDERATIO AND lNIMICA TYRANNIS.
Obverse : A circular central field, size 6, covered with a
cluster of thirteen small stars ; around this device a glory of
fine rays, presenting a corrugated outline of sixteen points.
Legend: "CONFEDERATIO 1785." Border, serrated.
Reverse : 4-n Indian, standing beside an altar or pedestal,
his right foot upon a crown, an arrow in his right hand, a how
in his left ; at his back a quiver full of arrows. Legend:
"INIMICA TYRANNIS AMERICA."
Border, serrated ; edge,
plain ; size, 18 ; weight, 112 grains.
CONNECTICUT CENT, 1788.
Obverse~ Identical with one of 1787.
Reverse: The same as one of the coins of Vermont. Another
Connecticut coin of this year, has the same reverse as the
" GEORGIVS III REX" issue of Machin & Co., from the mint
establishe<l by them in the State of New York.
NoTE.-The obverse and reverse dies of the Connecticut cents are too
numerous to mention, there being no less than one hundred and sixty-four
of the fin;t, and eighty-four of the latter.

NEW ENGLAND TOKEN.
Obverse : Same as that of the common type of the Carolina
Token of 1694, an<l from the same die as that and the " London Halfpenny."
Reverse: An inscription, in five lines, occupying the whole
field, '' GOD PRESERVE NEW ENGLAND 1694."
Borders,
milled; edge, plain; copper; size, 18½ ; wei~ht, 133 and 236
grains.
Goon SAMARITAN SHl'LLINGs.
The liame general type and variety as the Pine Tree Shilling, but bearing upon the obverse a well-executed device,
illustrating the parable of the Good Samaritan ; but two or

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,.,
fp,

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PLATE III,

LARGE PATTERN CENT.
NOT ISSUED.

BAR CENT.
VERY RARE.

Fumo.

lNDIICA TYRANNIS
AMERICANA.

"MIND YOUR BUSINESS."
FIRST.

Fumo.
,I

MIND YOUR BUSINESS."
SECOND.

See description.

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PLATE IV.

HALF CENT.

1836.

HALF CENT.

1845.

C.

HALF CENT.

CONFEDERATE
HALF DOLLAR.

s. A.

1840.

"JEFFERSON HEAD"
CENT.

HALF CENT.

1846.

See description.

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THE UNITED STATES

MINT.

73

three specimens of this coin have been known, two of which
are in existence and of unique varieties ; they are supposed to
have been· pattern pieces, struck at the origin of the Mint of
Massachusetts Colony.
MASSACHUSETTS HALF CENT, 1787.
Obverse: Same general description as the Cent of 1787.
Reverse: Same in general as the Cent of 1787, except that
the shield upon some specimens, bears only "HALF CENT."
Borders, milled; edge plain; size, 15 to 15½ ; weight, 7 5 to
83 grains.
The" Cent," 1788. Twelve Types. Thirteen Varieties.
MASSACHUSETTS CENT, 1788.
Obverse: A clothed Indian, standing, facing left, in his
right hand a bow, in his left an arrow. Legend: "COMMONWEALTH.''
Reverse: A spread eagle, a broad shield upon his breast, six
pales gules (upright), a chief azure (open or plain). Upon the
chief, or upper part of the shield, the word " CENT," in bold
Roman lettering. In exergue, beneath a heavy horizontal bar,
the date 1787. Borders, milled; edge, plain; size, 16½ to
19; weight, 146 to 165 grains.
FuGios OR FRANKLIN CENTS.
The Fugios or Franklin Cents are the earliest coins issued
by authority of the United States. They being all dated 17 87,
and made in conformity with resolution of Congress, dated
July 6, 1787:
" Resolved, That the Board of Treasury direct the contractor for the copper coinage to stamp on one side of each
piece the following devices, viz. : Thirteen circles linked together, a small circle in the middle, with the words ' UNITED
STATES' round it, and in the centre the words, 'WE ARE ONE' ;
on the other side of the same piece the following device, viz. :
a dial with the hours expressed on the face of it; a meridian
sun above, on one side of which is to be the word 'FUGIO,' and
on the other the year in figures ' 1787 ' ; below the dial the
words 'MIND YOUR BUSINESS.' "

us

THE BAR CENT, OR
A .COPPER.
This coin, presumed to have belonged to the same issue as ·
the Nova Constellatio Coppers, was probably made in Bir-

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74

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

mingham, England, by Thomas W yon, for circulation in
America. The " U S A" Copper was first passe<l as money
in the City of New York, in November, 1785. The device
was taken from an old Continental button, to which fact and
the light weight of the piece, has been attributed the disfavor
shown the coinage and the limited circulation given the same.
Obverse: Large Roman "U S A" in a monogram, on a
plain field.
Reverse: Thirteen horizontal bars. Border, serrated; Edge,
plain ; size, 15½; weight, 85 grains. Two pairs of dies.
MARYLAND PENNY.
The Maryland Penny .. One Type. One Variety. Unique.
Obverse: Similar to that of the sixpence.
Reverse: A Ducal Coronet, upon which are erected two
masts, each bearing a flying pennant. Legend: "DENARIVM
TERRE-MARllE." Copper; size, 13.
The only specimen of this piece extant was imported into
America from England, at a cost of £7 5, and was sold for
$370 with the collection of J. J. Mickley, Esq., of Phi1adelphia.
ROSA AMERICANA HALF-PENNY, 1722.
Obverse : Laureated head of King George I, facing right.
Legend: "GEORGIUS D.EI GRATIA REX."
Reverse : A full double rose; from this project five barbed
points. Legend: "ROSA AMERICANA UTILE DULCI 1722"
which encircles the piece.
Border, beaded ; edge, plain;
"Bath Metal;" size, 16 to 18; weight, 139 grains.
Devices : Same as those of the Penny of this coinage. Legends: Same import as those upon the Penny, but varied by
abbreviations and in punctuation. Border, beaded; edge,
plain; " Bath Metal;" size, 13 to 14 ; .weight, 7 5 grains.
LIBER NATUS LIBERTATEM DEFENDo-First.
Reverse: Arms of the State of New York. Upon an oval
shield at the center is shown the sun rising from behind a
range of hills, the sea i~ the foreground ; left of the shield,
Justice, with sword and scales; right, Liberty, with staff and
cap. Upon a hemisphere, above the shield, stands an eagle,
wings outspread, facing right. Exergue: 1787; beneath thisi
next the border, " EXCELSIOR." Border, serrated ; edge,
plain; size, 17; weight, 157 grains.

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PLATE V.

MARYLAND
PENNY.

HALF CENT,

Ros.A. AMERICANA

1847.

fuLF PENNY,

1722.

LIBER NATUS
LIBERNATUM DEFENDO.
FIRST.

GRANBY OR HIGLEY
• TOKEN, 1737.

LIBER NATUS
LIBERNATUII DEFENDO,
SECOND.

See description.

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PLATE VI.

WASHINGTON CENT,

1783..,

NON DEPENDENS
STATUS.

WASHINGTON LIVERPOOL
HALI' PENNY,

"NAKED BUST."
CENT.

W ASHllfOTON

1793,

li92.

PATTERN CENT.

HALF CENT.

1792.

1842.

See description.

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75

THE UNITED STATES MINT.
LIBER NATUS LIBERTATEM DEFENDO.-Second.

Obverse: An Indian, standing, crowned with feathers, and
(acing left ; in his right hand he wields a tomahawk, his left
sup'ports a bow, the end of which rests on the ground near
his feet; over his right shoulder appears the top of a quiver
of arrows, which is borne upon his back. Legend : "LIBER
NATUS LIBERATEM DEFENDO."
Reverse: A hemisphere of the globe, marked by longitudinal and meridiana.l lines; upon this stands a large heavybodied eagle, wings spread, somewhat• drooping, beak toward
the right.
Legend: "NEO-EBORACUS 1787 EXCELSIOR."
Border, serrated; edge, plain; size, 17 ; weight, 153 grains.
GRANBY OR HIGLEY TOKEN, 1737.
Obverse: A deer, standing, facing left, occupying the whole
field. Legend: "VALVE ME AS YOU PLEASE." Exergue: The
Roman numerals III upon a small scroll; .a little crescent is
shown below.
· Reverse: Three hammers, each bearing a crown upon the
head. Legend: "I AM GOOD COPPER 1737."
WASHINGTON CENT, 1783.
Obverse: Large laurei,.ted bust of Washington, draped,
facing left. Legend: "wASHINGTON & INDEPENDENCE 17 83."
Reverse: A figure of a female, facing left, seated upon a
rock; right hand holds an olive branch; left, staff of liberty,
with cap. Legend: "UNITED STATES." Exergue: T. w. r.
E. s. Border, beaded; edge, plain; size, 17½; weight, 120
grains. Two obverse and three reverse dies.

wASHINGTON

LIVERPOOL HALF-PENNY.

Obverse: Bust of Washington, in uniform, facing left, hair
in a queue. Legend: "WASHINGTON PRESIDENT."
Reverse: A ship, under sail, to the right: Legend:
"HALFPENNY" under the ship, waves, and in the foreground,
on a panel, the date 1793. Border, milled; edge, lettered:
"PAYABLE IN ANGLESEY LONDON OR LIVERPOOL." Size, 19;
weight, 163 grains.
WASHINGTON NAKED BUST CENT, 1792.
Obverse: A classical bust of Washington, undraped, facing
right; the head is encircled by a fillet, confining the hair,
which is cut short and is curly; the fillet is tied at the back
of the head by a bow knot with long pendent ends. Legend:
"WASHINGTON PRESIDENT 1792."

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76

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

Reverse: A small eagle, displayed, wings upraised; on his
breast a shield argent, six pales gules; right talon, an olive
branch, fourteen leaves, six berries; left talon, thirteen arrows;
about the head of the eagle are six mullets, and above is the
word "CENT." Border, milled; edge, plain, or inscribed:
"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
Size, 19; weight, 198
grains. Some six or eight specimens only are known.
NON DEPEND ENS STATUS.
Obverse : A full bust, facing right; flowing hair to the
shoulders. Upon the drapery of the bust a small oval shield
as an epaulet, emblazoned with a staff bearing a flag; across
the staff, saltierwise, rests a naked sword. In each angle of
this device is displayed a fleur delis. Upon the breast of the
bust is a head with spreading wings. Legend: "NON-DEPENDENS STATTS.''
Reverse : An Indian, seated upon a globe, facing left; nude,
except a cap or bandeau upon his head, and a feather tunic
around the lower part of the body. In his extended right
hand he holds a bunch of tobacco ; the left reaches behind
him and rests upon a shield, bearing the same emb"lems displayed upon the epaulets upon the bust on the obverse. Legend: "AMER ICA," divided by the figure of the Indian.
Exergue: 1778. Border, plain; edge plain; size, 19.
Some coin dealers advertise the Non Dependens Status as
"a rare copper, worth $100."
PATTERN CENT, 1792.
Obverse: A bust of Liberty, facing to right, the hair confined by a fillet. Above is inscribed the word "LIBERTY,"
and beneath the date "1792."
Reverse: A portion of a globe, on which stands an eagle,
with raised wings. Legend: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
This cent has a grained edge, li,ke the cents of 1793. Some
numismatists give it ·the preference as the first cent.
GEORGE CLINTON COPPER, 1787.
The George Clinton Copper has the bust of Governor Clinton facing right, with legend "GEORGE CLINTON."
Reverse: The State arms of New York, and in the exergue,
"1787 EXCELSIOR." This last reverse is found also combined
with the Liber Natus, which has an Indian standing, facing
left, with tomahawk in the right hand and bow in the left, a
bundle of arrows also at his back. Legend: "LIBER NATUS
LIB ER TATEM DEFENDO." This latter obverse is also found
combined with another reverse, as follows: An eagle stands
upon a section of the globe. Legend: "NEO EMBORACUS
1787 EXCELSIOR."
i

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PLATE VII.

GEORGE CLINT01"

KEliTuCJtY ToltEN.

CoPPEB. 1787.

MASSACHUSETTS
PINE TREE SHILLING.

CoLUl!lBLL
1787.

lllllUNIS

MYDDELTON ToltEN.

CHAIN CENT.

1793.

1652.
Bee deacrlptlon.

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PLATE VIII.

GRLEK EGYPTIAN Cour.
PTOLEM.a!:US 8oTER,

286--300B. C.

ROMAN COIN.
FAUSTINA, DAUGHTER
OF ANTONINUS Prns,
WIFE OF MARCUS

MACEDONIAN SILVER
COIN.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT,

300 YEARS B. C,

AmtELIUS.

DIED, 175 A. D.

SILVER SHEI<EL OF
JUDEA,
SIKON MACCABEES,

PERSIAN SILVER COIN.
VOLOGESES III.

JUDEAN COPPER COIN.
SilllON MACCABEES

148-190 A. D. ,

145 B. C

145 B. C.
See description.

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THE

UNITED STATES

77

MINT.

KENTUCKY 1.'oKEN OR CENT
Has a hand holding a scroll inscribed "Our Cause is Just."
Legend: "UNANIMITY IS THE STRENGTH OF SOCIETY." Reverse: A radiant pyramid, triangular in shape, of fifteen stars
united by rings, each star having placed in it the initial of a
State, Kentucky being at the top.
Legend: "E PLURIBUS
UNUM."
SHEKEL (SIMON MACCABEES).
The Shekel was originally a weight. The first form in
which money was used by the Jews, and by all other natiou,;
of which we have any knowledge, was the pieces without any
regular shape or any marks or devices upon them. Precious
metals passed by weight. Thus it is said of the purchase
made by Abraham of the cave and field of Machpelah, "And
Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to
Ephron the silver1 which he had named in the audience of the
sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current with the
merchant." Gen. xxiii. 16.
The weight of a shekel was a little less than one-half an
ounce troy. The term "current with the merchant," probably
refers to the purity of the silver, which was about ninety-five
per cent. fine, and the value in our money was fifty-eight
cents. It first appeared as a coin in the time of the Maccabees,
who lived about 140 B. C. The amount of silver in the coin
is the same as was contained in the piece of silver denomip.ated a shekel. It will be seen that on one side is the golden
cup that had manna (see Exod. xvi. 33, and Heb. ix. 4), with
the inscription in old Hebrew character, "SHEKEL OF ISRAEL;"
on the other side appears Aaron's rod that budded with the
legend in the same character, "JERUSALEM THE HOLY." This
specimen is in the Mint cabinet; one of the most rare and
interesting coins in the collection.
IMMUNIS COLUMBIA, 1787.
Obverse: The Goddess of Liberty, seated upon a globe,
facing right; in her fully extended left hand she balances the
scales of justice; the right hand supports a liberty staff,
bearing a flag and crowned with a cap. . Legend: "IMM UN IS
COLUMBIA." Exergue: 1787.
Reverse: An eagle, displayed; right talon, an olive branch,
thirteen leaves; left talon, thirteen arrows. Legend: "E
PLURIBUS UNUM." Borders, serrated; edge, plain; size, 16½;
weight, 135 grains.

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78

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

MASSACHUSETTS PINE TREE SHILLING.
"John Hull and Robert Saunderson were equal officers in
the 'gainful business' of the Mint. How much they coined in
all for the colony, or the exact amount of their profits under
the -contract they carried out, cannot be determined." The
coinage was certainly large in amount, and they, as was well
understood, became men of wealth and substance. When the
daughter of John Hull was married to Judge Samuel Sewall,
the founder of the town of Newbury, Mass., the prosperous
mint-master gave the bride a dowery of her weight in silver.
At the conclusion of the wedding ceremony, a large steel-yard
was brought into the room, and the blushing bride placed upon
one of the platforms of the same, while into a tub upon the
other side were poured the Pine Tree Shillings, until the
steel-yard bala,nced.
CHAIN CENTS.
These have a bust with flowing hair, looking right, with the
date below and word "LIBERTY" above it; on the reverse side,
in the centre, is "ONE CENT," with "Th-" below it, enclosed in
an endless chain of fifteen links, typifying the number of
States then in the Union. The legend is "UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA" in all excepting one die, which reads "UNITED
STATES OF AMER!," the engraver evidently not having room
to complete the word.
THE MYDDLETON TOKENS.
Obverse: A figure, representing Hope, beside an anchor;
she presents two children to a female, the last extending her
right hand in reception of the charge; the left hand supports
a liberty staff, which is crowned with a cap; in front of the
figure with the staff is an olive branch and a wreath, to the
rear a cornucopia. Legend: "BRITISH SETTLEMENT KENTUCKY."
Reverse: Brittania, seated disconsolate amid the down-cast
emblems of her power, and facing left; her head is bowed; she
holds in her right hand an inverted spear, the head of which
penetrates the ground; at her right side a bundle of fasces or
lictors' rods have fallen near the cap of Liberty; upon the
ground, before the figure, are the scales of justice, upon which
Brittania has set her left foot and the sword of justice, with
broken blade; the left arm of the figure rests upon a large
Legend:
shield, bearing the cross of the British ensigns.
"PAYABLE BY P. P. P. MYDDLETON."

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PLATE IX.

~LPCJU<T.

1802.

W.UWNOTON .MEDA.L.

1789.

HA.LP CEST.

Wll:&ATH CENT.

1794.

1798.

HA.LP CENT.

NEW YORK CENT .

1847.

Bee description.

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PLATE X.

•
GREEK EGYPTIAN Cour.
PTOLEMY.

Wrnow's MITE.
COPPER COIN.

ROMAN BRONZE CoIN.
TU.TAN AUGUSTUS.

V~-117 A. D.

ANTIOCHl'S EPIPllANES.

COUNTERFEIT JUDEAN SHEKEL.
DATING AROUT THE TIME
O>' CHRIST.

MACEDONIAN COIN.
PHILIP III.

317-324 B. C.

Bee description.

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i

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79

THE UNITED STA'I'ES MINT.

THE SMALL PATTERN CENT.
Obverse: A head, facing right, hair unconfined, floating
backward in flowing locks. Legend: '' LIBERTY PARENT OF
SCIENCE & INDUST." Exergue: Beneath the head the date

1792.
Reverse: A wreath, two olive branches crossed at the lower
ends and tied with a ribbon; within the wreath a field bearing
an inscription "ONE CENT" in two lines. Legend: "UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA." Exergue: "rtir." Border, milled; edge,
reeded; size, 14; weight, 65 grains. Extremely rare.
THE DOUBLE HEAD

wASHINGTON

A small head on both obverse and reverse.

The forme,
has the legend, "wASHINGTON;" the latter the legend "ONE
CENT." No date.
NEW y ORK wASHINGTON CENT.
Bust of Washington with a wig, and with military draping,
face right. Legend: "NON VI VIRTUTE VICI."
Reverse: The Goddess of Liberty, seated, with libert1 pole
and scales of justice. Legend: "NEO EBORACENSIS." Date,

1786.
CAROLINA ELEPHANT (TOKEN.)
A token much prized by collectors is known as the Carolina
Elephant.
The obverse is from a rather common English
token known now as the London Elephant. The animal is
standing v.ith his head down. There is no legend.
Reverse: "GOD PRESERVE CAROLINA AND THE LORDS PROPRIETERS J 694."
COPPER HALF-CENT OF 1794.
I~ 1794 and 1795 similar device to that of 1793; bat face
Liberty facing to the right. Weight, 104 grains.
CENT, 1799.
The liberty cap is omitted, as is the lettering on the edge,
not to reappear on the American cent. Liberty Cap Cents
are very rare.
In the year 1798 a slight change was made in the obverse
of the cent, giving some of the curls a different termination
from those of 1796, 1797, and the early part of 1798. The
latter device was continued each year, until and including
1807. The reverse remained unchanged during the same time,
excepting some slight varia,tions, probably unintentional, if
not positive mistakes. For instance, in 1797 and 1802 we
end some without stems to the wreath..", and in one case only

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80

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY

011'

one stem. In 1801 and 1802 some have m instead of the
fraction Th. In addition to this error, a variety of the cent of
1802 has "Iinited," instead of "{Tnited." In 1796 we have
in one instance "Liberty," instead of " Liberty."
LIBERTY CENT, 1809.
In 1809 an obverse head of Liberty; forehead encircled by
a band, ''LIBERTY" inscribed upon it, surrounded by thirteen
stars. Exergue: "1809." ·
·
Reverse: Wreath in a circular garland inclosing the words
"ONE CENT." No change took place during the issues of 1808
to 1814, inclusive.
HALF-CENT OF 1793.
The first half-cent was issued in 1793, having on obverse:
Bust of Liberty, facing to the left; staff surmounted by
liberty-cap over right shoulder. Legend: "LIBERTY." Exergue: "1793."
Reverse; Inscription, "HALF CENT," surrounded by a
wreath, tied with a ribbon. Weight, 132 grains.
WREATH CENT.
Obverse: Bust of Liberty, hair flowing. Legend,: "LIBERTY." Exergue: "1793."
Reverse: A wreath with berries, the stems of wreath tied in
a bow with a ribbon. Inscription: '' ONE CENT." Legend:
"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Exergue: "Th." ·
Third. Known as the "Liberty Cap Cent."
tIBERTY AND SECURITY W AS~INGTON CoIN.
Obverse: A bust of Washington, in uniform, facing right,
hair in a queue.. Legend: "GEORGE WASHINGTON."
Reverse: A shield with sixteen argent and gules impaling
argent, fifteen mullets; above the shield an eagle, left talon,
an olive branch, right talon, six arrows. Legend: "LIBERTY
AND SECURITY." Exergue: "17 95," divided by the point
of the shield. Border: A plain circle, and outside of the
same, milled edge, lettered "AN ASYLUM FOR ALL NATIONS."
Size, 20½; weight, 310 grains. This piece is extremely rare.
VrnGnnA HALF-PENNY.
The well-known Virginia half-pennies seem to have been
very plentiful. A number of different dies were used. A laureated bust of George the Third is surrounded, as ou the English half-penny, with his title, "GEORGIVS III. REX." The
reverse bas an ornamental and crowned shield, emblazoned
quarterly: 1, England em paling Scotland; 2, France; 3, Ireland; 4, the electoral dominions. Legend: "VIRGINIA."

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PLATE XI.

CENT, 1809.

•
•

PATTERN

..Two CENT" PIECE.

HALF CEN,.

CHAIN (;'ENT.

1793.

1793•

CENT, 1799.

SMALL

PATTEllN CENT.

See deocription.

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1791

PLATE XII.

DoUBLE HEAD
WASHIMGTON,

N. Y. CoLONIAL CKNT.
1787.

LIBERTY .um SECURITY
WASHINGTON MEDAT. li~.

CAROLINA
EI.EPHANT TOKEN,

GRANBY OR HIGLEY
CoPPER TOKEN,

VIRGISIA

1694,

HAL>' CENT.

See deocriptlon.

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PLATE XIII.

MEDAL OF 17i6, COMMEMORATIVE OE THE NATION'S lNDKPENDKNCE.

"KITTANNING MEDAL," ONE OP' TH E EARLIEST MEDALS EXECUTED
I N AMERICA.

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PLA TE XIV.

179ii SILVE R l>oLLAR .

OBVERS E AND REVERS E.

1798 SILVER l>oLL,.B .

OBVERS E AND REVERS E,

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(

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PLATE XV.

ROSA AMERICANA.

MASSACHUSETTS
HALF CENT.

RHODE I SLAND MEDAL.

Pi1T MEDAL.

lMMUNIS CoLUMBIA .

NEW YORK TOKEN.

See description.

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PLATE XVI.

PATTIIBN HALF DoLI,All,

1859.

LIJiuTY HA.LIi' CENT,

1795.

PATTERN CIINT.

LIBIIRTY OENT.

1854.

1793.

0
0

PATTERN CENT,
CoPPEB AND SILVER.

PA'ITEBN Cli:NT.

18., 5.

1850.

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PLATE XVII.

*RARE CoLONIAL CENT,
OF NEW JERSEY,

WASHINGTON CENT,

1;sa.

W ABBINGTON HALF DoLLAB.
1792,

WASHINGTON
Vl!RY RARE.

CENT.
1792.

WASHINGTON CENT.
1783.

WASHINGTON CENT,
1791,

• Considered unique, one recently sold for 8640.00 at a public sale in New York.

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PLATE XVIII.

TRIBUTE MONEY.

COUNTERFEIT SHEKEL,
OF EUROPEAN MANUFACTURE.

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT.

JEWISH.

JEWISH,
LEPTON,

GRECIAN.

B.

C.

LEPTON,

A. D.

::l!Axnrus PHILLIPUS.

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PLATE XIX.

DOUBLE EAGLE 1849.

•Unique," .beyond price.

HALF E-'-GLE, 1849.

EAGLE, 1849•

DOUBLE EAGLE.
1885.

GOLD DoLLAR,
1849.

TEN DOLLAR EAGLE, 1795.

HALF EAGLE!', 1885.

HALF EAGLE, 1795.

E..lGLB,

1885.

••••
THREE DoLLARS.
Gold Piece, 1885.

QUARTER EAGLE,

1847.

QUARTER EAGLE,
1885.

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1885.

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PLATE XX.

RHODES.

GREEK CoIN,
ALEX4NDER THE GBBA.T.

A.!iTIOCHUS

VIL

SYB4BIS.

IIBBOCLBA.

ATHENS.

300 B. C.

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PLATE XXI.

1804 DOLLAR,

PATTERN D OLLAR,

"The King among Rarities."

PATTERN DOLLAR O>" 1871,

Rejected .

None issued.

PATTERN PIECE XNOWN AS THR
BARBER DOLLAR, Rejected.

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PLATE XXII.

SILVER DoLLAR, 1849,

STA.'WARD DOLLAR, 1885.

HALI' DOLLAR, 1849.

RALF DoLLAR, 1794.

luJ3 DIKE, 1849.

llALJI' DOLLAR, 1885.

l>IllE, 1849.

QtJUTER DOLLAR, 1885.

QUARTER DoLLAR, 1$49,

Dunt, 1885.

DIKE, 1796.

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PLATE XXIII.

LIBERTY CAP CENT, 1793.

CHAIN CENT, 1793.
Fil'lil issue.

HALF CE1'T, 1798.

CHAIN CENT, 1793.
Second Issue.

CENT, 1849.

PATTERN TWENTY C&IIT
PIECE, Rejected.

_CENT, 1885.

THREE CENT NICKEL.
1885.

HALF CENT, 1849.

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THRRE CENT PUCCB,
1885.

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PLAT E XXIV .

.ANTIOCUU S

VU.

.ANTIOCHU S

VIII.

PRUSIAS.

ABDJtJU.

.ALEXAND ER
THE GREAT.

P.urORIIU S.

EPIPHANE S,

Grecian Coins aboul 300 years B. c.

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L

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81

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

Corns

ISSUED AT THE UNITED STATES MINT AT

DELPHIA, FROM ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN

1792

TO

PHILA-

1885.

0oLD.

DuuhleEagk.
Authorize<l to be coined, Act of March 3, 1849. Weight, 516. grains;
fineness, 900 ; size, 21.
1850 to 1865, inclusive. No. I. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair
tied behind, a coronet on the forehead inscribed "LIBERTY," thirteen stars
and date.
Reverse: An eagle with shield upon its breast, and an olive branch an.J
three arrows in its talons; in its beak, an elaborate RCroll, inscribed "E
PLURIBUS 1:NUM." A hove, a circle of thirteen stars and a curved line of
rays extending from wing to wing. ,, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
◄< TWF.NTY D.''

.

1866 to 1876, inclusive. No. 2, same, with the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST"
Inscribed within the circlA of stars on the reverse.
1877. No. 3. Harne, with "TWENTY DOLLARS" for "TWENTY D."
Eagle.

Anthorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 270 grains;
fineness, 916i, Weight changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to 258 grains.
Fineness changed, Act of Jnne 28, 1834, to 899.225. Fineness changed,
Act of January 18, 183i, to 900.
179,3. Obverse: Liberty head, wearing a cap, facing rigl1t. Fifteen
,stars. Above, "LIBERTY;" beneath, "1795 ;" size, 21.
Reverse: An eagle with displayed wings, standing on a palm branch;
in be~k, a laurel wreath. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
1796. Rame, with sixteen stars.
1797. No. 1. Same, with sixteen star~.
1797. No. 2. Obverse: Same, with sixteen stars.
Reverse: An eagle with the United States shield upon its breast, a
bundle of arrows in the right talon, and an olive branch in the left; in its
beak, a scroll inscribed "E PLURIBUS UNUM." Around the head are sixteen stars; above, is a curved line of clouds extending from wing to wing.
.,UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."

1798 tfl 1801, inclusive. Same, with thirteen stars on the obverse. Of
1798, two varieties with four stars facing.
1802. None issued.
1803 and 1804. Same as No. 2 or 1797. Thirteen stars.
1805 to 1837, inclusive. None issued.
1838 to 1865, inclnsive. Obverse: Liberty head facing left, hair tied
behind, a coronet on the forehead inscribed "LIBERTY," thirteen stars, and
date.
Reverse: An eagle with the United States shield upon its breast, and
an olive branch and three arrows in the talons. "UNITED STATES oF
AMERICA." Size, 17.
1866. Sam.e, with a scroll above the eagle inscribed "rN GOD wB
TRUST,"

Half Eagle.
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 135 grains;
fineness, 916!. Weight changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to 129 grains.

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82

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

Fineness changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to 899.225. Fineness changed,
Act of January 18, 1837, to 900.
1795. No. 1. Same type as the Eagle; size, 16.
1795. No. 2. Obverse: Same.
Reverse: An eagle, wings extended upwards, with the United States shield
upon its breast, a bundle of thirteen arrows in the right talon, and an olive
branch in the left. In its beak, a scroll inscribed "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
Around the head are sixteen stars, and above is a curved line of clouds
extending from wing to wing. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
1796. Same as No. 1 of 1795; fifteen stars on obverse.
1797. No. 1. Same as No. 1 of 1795.
1797. No. 2. Same, with sixteen stars on obverse.
1797. No. 3. Obverse: Same, with fifteen stars.
Reverse: Same as No. 2 of 1795, sixteen stars around the eagle.
1798. No. 1. Same as No. 1 of 1795, with thirteen stars.
1798. No. 2. Obverse: Same.
Reverse: Sa.me as No. 2 of 1795, thirteen stars.
1799 and 1800. Same as No. 2 of 179,5, with thirteen stars on the obverse.
1801. None issued.
1802 to 1806, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1795, with thirteen stars on
the obverse.
1807. No. 1. Obverse: Same as No. 1, 1795, with thirteen stars.
Reverse: Same as No. 2, 1795.
1807. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left; bust, draped, wearing
a kind of turban with a band in front inscribed "LIBERTY," thirteen stars,
and date.
Reverse: An eagle, with the United States shield upon its breast, an
olive branch and three arrows in the talons. Above, a scroll, inscribed
"E PLURTBUS UNUM." United States of America "5. D."
1808 to 1812 inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1807.
1813 to 1815, inclusive. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, wearing a
kind of turban, a band in front inscribed "LIBERTY." Thirteen stars and
date. No shoulders.
Reverse: Same ns No. 2 of 1807.
1816 and 1817, inclusive. None issued.
1818 to 1828, inclusive. Same as 1813.
182l1. No. 1. Same as 1813; size, 16.
1829. No. 2. Same. but smaller; size, 15.
1830 to 1833, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1829.
1834. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1829.
1834. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair confined by a band
lnscribed "LIBERTY."
ReYerse: Same as No. 2 of 1807, without the motto'' E PLURIBUS UNU!l"
<1mitted; size, 14.
1835 to 1838, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1834.
1839 to 1865, inclusive. Same type as the Eagle of 1838.
1866. Same type as Eagle of same date.
Three-Dollar Piece.
Authorized to be coined, Act of February 21, 1853. Weight, 77.4,
grains; fineness, 900.
18.54. Obverse: An Indian head, wearin!;' a crown of eagle feathers, on
band of which is inscribed "LIBERTY"-'' UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
Reverse: "3 dollars 1854" within a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and
t<>bacco. Size, 13.

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83

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

Quarter-Eag/,e.
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 67.5 grains;
fineness, 916i. Weight changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to 64.5 grains.
Fineness changed, Act of June 28, 1834, to l:!99.225. Fineness changed,
.Act of January 18, 18::17, to 900.
1796. No. 1. Obverse: Liberty head, facing right, above "LIBERTY"aixteen stars.
Reverse: Same type as No. 2 half-eagle of 1795, size 13.
No. 2. Same, with no stars on obverse.
1797-1798. Same as No . 1 of 1796, with thirteen stars.
1799-1801, inclusive. None issued.
1802. Same as 1798.
1803. None issned.
1804 to 1807, inclusive. Same as 1798.
1808. Same type as No. 2 half-eagle of 1807, with" 2z D."
1809 to !SW, inclusive. None issued.
1821. Obverse: Same type as the half-eagle of 1813, size 12.
Reverse: Same type as No. 2 half-eagle of 1807.
1822 and 1823. None issued.
1821-1827, inclusive. Same as 1821.
1823. None iss,1ed.
1829 to 1833, inclusive. Same as 1821.
183!. No. 1. Same as 1821. No. 2. Same type as No. 2 half-eagle of
1834, size 11.
1835 to 1839, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1834.
1840 to 1865. Same type as the eagle of 1834.
1866. Same type as eagle of 1866.
Dollar.

Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1849. Weight, 25.8 graiill!;
fineness, 900.
1849 to 1853, inclusive. Obverse: Same type as the eagle, without date.
Reverse: "l DOLLAR 1849" within a laurel wreath, "UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA." Size 8.
1854. No. I. Same.
No. 2. Sarne type as the three-dollar piece,
aize 9.
SILVER.
Dollar.

Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 416 grains;
fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 412½ grains.
Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Coinage discontinued,
Act of February 12, 1873. Coinage reauthorized, Act of February 28, 18i8.
179!. Obverse: Liberty head, facing right., flowing hair, fifteen stars:
above, "LIBERTY;" b£neath, "1794."
Reverse: An eagle with raised wings, encircled by branches of laurel
cr,.ssed; "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." On the edge," HUNDRED CENTS,
ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT." Size, 24.
1795. No. 1. Same.
1795. No. 2. Bust of Liberty, facing right, hair bound by a ribbon,
shoulders draped, fifteen stars.
Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings, standing upon clouds, within a
wreath of palm and laurel, which is crossed and tied. "UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA."
1796. Same as No. 2, of 1795.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

1797. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1795, with sixteen stars, six of which

.are facing.
1797. No. 2. Same, with-seven stars facing.
1798. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1795, with fifteen stars.
1798. No. 2. Same, with thirteen stars.
1798. No. 3. Obverse : Same, with thirteen stars.
Reverse: An eagle with raised wings, bearing the United States shield
upon its breast, in beak, a scroll inscribed "E PLURIBUS UNUM." A
bundle of thirteen arrows in the right talon, and an olive branch in the
left. Above, are clouds, and thirteen i;tars. "UNITED ST.A.TES OF .A.MERICA."
.Size, 25.
179!.l to 1804, inclusive. Same as No. 3, of 1798.
1805 to 1839, inclu~ive. None issued.
1840 to 1865, inclusive. Obverse: Liberty seated upon a rock, supporting with her right hand the United States shield, across which floats a scroll
inscribed "LIBERTY," and with her left the staff and liberty cap; beneath,
the date.
Reverse: An eagle with expanrled wings, bearing the United States shield
upon its breast,and an (!live branch and three arrows in its talons. •• UNITED
-ST.A.TES OF AMERICA." "ONE DOLL." Reeded erlge; size, 24.
1866 to 1873, inclusive. Same, with a bcroll above the eagle, inscribed,
"IN GOD WE TRUST."
1874 to 1877, inclusive. None issued.
1878. Obverse: Liberty head facing left, upon which is a cap, a wheat
.and cotton wreath, and a band inscribed "LIBERTY;" above, "E PLURIBUS
UNUM f' beneath, the date. Thirteen stars.
Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings pointing upwards; in right talon
an olive branch with nine leaves; in the left, three arrows. In the field
.above, "IN GOD WE TRUST;" beneath, a semi-wreath, til"d and crossed,
reaching upwards to the wings; "UNITED STATI:S OF AMERICA." Some
pieces of the above date (1878) were coined with eight feathers in the tail
during the year, but seven have been adopted.
SILVER.
Tra<le Dollar.

Authorized to be coined, Act of February 12, 1873. Weight, 420 grains;
-fineness, 900.
1873. Obverse: Liberty seated upon a cotton bale, facing left; in her extended right hand an olive branch ; in her left a scroll incribed "LIBERTY ;"
behind her a sheaf of wheat; beneath, a scroll inscribed "IN GOD WE
TRUST;" thirteen stars; "1873."
Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings; in talons three arrows and an
olive branch ; abovt", a scroll inscribed "E PLURIBUS UNUM;" beneath, on
field, ., 420 grains;" ,, 900 fine." "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.. Size, 24.
Half Dollar.
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 208 grains;
fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 206!- grains.
Fineness ehanged, Act of ,January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act
of February 21, 1853, to 192 grains. Weight changed, Act of February 12,
1873, to 12¼ grammes, or 192.9 grains.
1794 and 1795. Same type as the dollar of 1791. On the edge, "FIFTY
<lENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR." Size, 21.
1796. No. 1. Same type as No. 2, dollar of 1795, with the denomination,
"½," inscribed on the base of the reverse. No. 2. Same, with sixteen starro
(ID the obverse.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

1797. Same as No. 2, of 1796.
1798 to 1800, inclnsivt-. None issued.
1801 to 18031 inclusive. Same type as No. 3, dollar of 1798.
1804. None l.Sl'ued.
1805 and 1806. Same as No. 3, dollar of 1798.
1807. No. 1. Same.
No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head facing left, wearing a kind of turban, with.
"LIBERTY" inscribed upon the band. Thirteen stars and date.
Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings pointing downwards, bearing·
upon its breast, the U. S. Shield, an o:ive branch and three arrows in itstalons; above, in the field, a scroll inscribed "E PLURIBUS UNUM;" beneath
60 C. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
1808 to 1835 inclusive, same as No. 2 of 1807.
1836. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1807.
No. 2. Obverse: Same.
Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings pointing downwards, the U.S.
shield upon its breast, an olive branch and three arrows in its talons,.
"UNITED STATES OF AMEKICA," reeded edge.
1837. Same as No. 2 of 1836.
1838. Obverse : Same as No. 2 of 1836.
Reverse: Same; '· HALI,' DOL." for '' 50 c."
1839. No. 1. Same as 1838.
No. 2. i-ame t,rpe as dollar of 1840.
1840 to 1852 inclusive, same.
1853. Obverse: Same with an arrow head on each side of the date.
, Reverse: Same, wi1h a halo of rays around the edge.
1854. Same, without the rays.
·
1855. Same.
18-->6 to 1865 inclusive, same, without the arrow heads.
1866 to 1872 inclusive, same, with scroll above the eagle inscribed "IN"
GOD w~: ·rRUST." (:-iome have been occasioMlly met with, which have been..
issued by the San Francisc-o Mint, without this legend in 1866.)
1873. No. 1. Same.
No. 2. Same, with arrow heads on each side of the date.
1874. Same.
1875. Same, without the arrow heads.
SILVER.
Quarter Dollar.

Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 104 grains;.:
fineness, 892.4. Weight chang, d, Act of January 18, 1837, to 103} grains.
Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed,
Act of February 21, 1853, to 96 grains. Weight changed, Act of February 12, 1873, to 6¼ grammes, or 96.45 grains.
1796. Same type as No. 2 dollar of 1795, with reeded edge; size, 18;
fifteen s•ars.
1797 to 1803. None iRBued.
1804 to 1807, inclusive. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798, beneath,.
"25c."
1808 to 1814, inclusive. None issued.
1815. ~ame type as No. 2 half dollar of 1807.
1816 and 1817. None issued.
1818 to 1825, inclusive. !fame type as No. 2 half dollar of 1807, size 1718:16. None issued.
1827 and 1828. Same type as No •. 2 half dollar of 1807.
11!29 and 1830. None i88ued.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

1831 to 1837, inclusive. Same type as half dollar of 1807, with the
diameter reduced from size 17 to size 15, and a corresponding increase in
thickness and decrease of the size of devices, and the omission of the
scroll, inscribed "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
1838. :No. 1. Same as 1837. No. 2. Same type as the dollar of 1840,
with "QUAR. DOL." for "ONE DOLL."
1839 to 1852, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1838.
1853. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with arrow heads on each side of
date, and a halo of rays around the edge.
1854 and 1855. Same, without the rays.
1856 to 1865. Same, without the arrow heads.
1866 to 1872, inclusive. Same, with the scroll above the eagle, inscribed
"IN GOD WE TRUST."

1873. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side
of the date.
1874. Same.
1875. Same, without the arrow head.

Twenty-Cent Pie,ce.
Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1875. ·weight, 5 grammes,
or 77.16 grains; fineness, 900. Coinage discontinued, Act ,,f May 2; 1878.
1875 to 1878, inclusive. Obverse: Same type as the dollar of.1840.
Reverse: An eagle with displayed wings, three arrows, and an olive
branch, two of the leaves of wh 1ch nearest the stem, together with those
drooping from the centre, overlap; the terminating leaves on the end of
the branch, however, do not. On each side a star. Plain edge. "UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA." "TWENTY CENTS." Size, 14.
Dime.
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 41.6 grains;
fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 41! grains.
Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed,
Act of Eebruary 21, 1853, to 38.4 grains. Weight changed, Act of February 12, 1873, to 21 grammes, or 38.58 grains.
1796. Same type as the No. 2 dollar of 1795; size 13 ; fifteen stars.
1797. No. 1. Same, with sixteen stars on the obveroe. No. 2. Same,
with thirteen stars on the obverse.
1798. No. 1. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798, with sixteen stars. No.
2. With thirteen stars on the obverse.
1799. None issued.
1800 to 180-5, inclusive. Same as No. 3 of 1798.
1806. None issm·d.
1807. Same as N". 2 of 1798.
1808. None iosued.
1809. Same type as No. 2 half-dollar of 1807; size, 12.
1810, None issued.
1811. Same as 1809.
1812 to 1813, inclusive. None issued.
1814. Same as 1809.
1815 to 1819, inclusive. None issued.
1820 to 11'25, inclusive. Sarne as 1809.
1826. None issued.
1827 to 1836, inclusive. Same ns 1809.
1837. No. 1. Same as 1809. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty seatad. No stars.
Reverse: "ONE DIME" within a wreath of laurel., "UNITED STATES OK
AMERICA.'' Size, 11.
·
1838. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1837. No. 2. Same, with thirteen stars.
1839 to 1852, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1838.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

1853. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side of
the date.
1854 and 1855. Same as No. 2 of 1853.
1856 to 1859, inclusive. Same, without arrow heads.
1860 to 1872, inclusive. Obverse: Same, with '' UNITED S'l'ATER OF
AMERICA " instead of stars.
Reverse: "ONE DIME" within a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, arid
tobacco.
1873. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side of
the date.
1874. Same as No. 2 of 1873.
1875. Same, without arrow heads.
Half Dime.
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 20.8 grains;
fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 20ft grains.
Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act
of February 21, 1853, to 19.2 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 12, 1873.
1794 and 1795. Same type as the half dollar; size, 10.
1796. Same type as No. 2 dollar of 1795; fifteen stars.
1797. No. I. Same, with fifteen stars. No. 2. Same, with sixteen stars.
No. 3. Same, with thirteen stan<.
1798 and 1799. None issued.
1800 to 1803, inclusive. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798.
1804. None issued.
1805. Same as 1800.
1806 to 1828, inclusive. None issued.
1829 to 1873. See dime.
Three Cent Piece.
Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1851. Weight, 12¾ grains;
fineness, 750. Weight changed, Aet of March 3, 18,53, to 11.52 grains.
Fineness changed, Act of March 3, 1853, to 900. Coinage discontinued,
Act of February 12, 1873.
1851 to 1853, inclusive. Obverse: A star bearing the United States
shield. "UNITED !'TATES OF AMERICA."
Reverse: An ornamented "c," within which is the denomination "III;"
around the border, thirteen stars; size, 9.
1854 to 1858. Obverse: Same, with two lines around the star.
Reverse: An olive branch above the "In," and three arrows below, all
within the "c."
1858 to 18731 inclusive. Same. with one line around the star.
MINOR

Corns.

Fit-e cent piece. (Nickle.)

Authorized to be coined. Act of May 16, 1866. Weight, 77.16 grains;
composed of 75 per cent. copper, and 25 per cent. nick le.
1866. Obverse: A United States shield surmounted by a cross, an olive
branch pendent at each side, back of the base of the shield are two arrows,
the heads and feathers are only visible; beneath, "1866 ;" above, in the
field, "IN GOD WE TRUST."
Reverse: "5" within a circl!' of thirteen stars, and rays," UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA." Size, 13.
1867. Same. No. 2. Same, without the rays
1868. Same as No. 2 of 1867.
1869 to 1882. Same as No. 2 of 1867.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

1883. No. 1. Bame. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head wearing a coronet
which is inscribed "LIBERTY," thirteen stars, and date, " 1883."
Reverse: A "V" within a wreath of corn and cotton. Legend, '' UNITEI>
STATES OF AMERICA." Exergue, "E PLURIBUS UNUM." No. 3, Obverse:
Same as No. 2.
Reverse: Same, with "CENTS" as the exergue, and "E PLURIBUS UNUll"
above the wreath.
1884. Same as No. 3 of the preceding.

Three cent piece. (Nulck.)
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 3, 1865. Weight, 30 grains;
composed of 75 per cent. copper, and 25 per cent. nickle.
1865. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair bound by a ribbon, on the
forehead a coronet inscribed "LIBERTY;" beneath, the date, "UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA."
Reverse: "III" within a laurel wreath.
MINOR COINS.

7wo Cent Piece (bronze).
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 22, 1864. Weight, 96 grains,
composed of ninety-five per cent. copp1,r •md five per cent. of tiu and zinc.
Coinage discontinued, Act of February 12, 1873.
lil64 to 1873, inclusive. Obvnse: The United States shield, behind
which are two arrows, crossed, on each side a branch of laurel; abo•,e, a
scroll inscribed "IN GOD WE TRUST" ; beneath, the date.
Reverse: ,. 2 CENTS" within a wreath of wheat. "UNITED STATES OP
AMERICA." ~ize, 14.
Cent (copper).
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 22, 1792. Weight, 264 grains.
Weight changed, Act of J,anuary 14, 1793, to 208 grains. Weight changed
by proclamation of the President, .January 26, li96, in conformity with an
Act of March 3, 1795, to 168 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 21, 1857.
1793. No. 1. Obverse: Liberty head, facing right, flowing hair. Above,
"LIBERTY": beneath, "179::S."
ReverRe: A chain of fifteen links, within which is inscribed "ONE CENT"
and the fraction "rh•" UniteJ States of America; reed,d edge; size, 17.
No. 2. Same, with the abbreviation "AMER!" in the Leg.-nd.
No. 3. Obverse: Same liB No. 1, with a sprig heneath.
Reverse: "ONE CENT'' within a wreath of laurel. "UNITED STATES OP
AMERICA. Reeded edge.
No.4. Obverse: A bust of Liberty, (ar-ing right, with pole and liberty
-cap. Above, "LIBERTY"; beneath, "1793."
Reverse: Same as No. 3; OD the erlge, "ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR."
Size, 18.
1794 and 1795. Same as No. 4 of li93.
1796. No.]. Same. No. 2. Sam<', wi1h hair bound by a rihbon, and
without pol" and li'Jnty cap on the ohver,e. Plain 1.:dge.
1797 to 1807 inl'luRi ve. SRme a.~ No. 2 of 1796.
1808 to 1814, inclusive. Obverse: Liberty head, fadng left. hair confined
by a band; inscribed "LIRERTY.'' Thir1een stars and elate.
Reverse: "ONE CENT," within a lanrel wreath. "UNITED STATES OP
.A.MERICA" The fraction "r½ir" is omitted.
1815. None i88ued.

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89

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

1816. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, the hair is confined by a roll,
and tied by a cord, whilet he forehead is bedecked with a tiara, inscribed
"LIBERTY."

Reverse: Same as 1808.
1817. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with fifteen stars.
1818 to 1836. Same as No. 1 of 1817.
1'337. No. I. Same. No. 2. Same, with the hair tied by a stringofbeada
instead of a cord.
1838 to 1857, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1837.
Cent (Nickle).

Authorized to be coined, Act of February 21, 1857. Weight 72 grains;
composed of 88 per cent. copper and 12 per cent. nickle. Coinage discontinued, Act of April 22, 1864.
'
1857 and 1858. Obverse: An eagle flying to the left. "UNITED STATESOF AMERICA."
Reverse: "ONE CENT,"

within a wreath. of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco. Size, 11.
1859. Obverse: An Indian-head, facing left, bedecked with eagle plumes,.
confined. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Beneath, the date.
Reverse: '' ONE CENT." within a wreath of laurel.
1860 to 1864, inclusive. Obverse: Same.
Reverse: "ONE CENT," within an oak wreath and shield,
Cent (Bronze).

Coinage authorized, Act of April 22, 1857. Weight, 48 grains; composed'
of 95 per cent. copper and 5 per cent. of tin and zinc.
1864. Same type as nickle cent of 1860. Size, 12.

"

Half Cent (Copper).
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 132 grains.
Weight changed, Act of January 14, 1793, to 104 grains. Weight changed
by proclamation of the President, January 26, 1796, in conformity with
Act of March 3, 1705, to 84 grains. Coiyage discontinued, Act of Februa.ry 21, 1857.
1793. Same type as cent No. 4, 1793, with head facing left. On the
edge, "TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR." Size, 14.
1794. Same type as the cent of 1794.
1795 to 1797, inclusive. Same, with plain edge.
1798 and 1799. None issued.
1800. Same type as No. 2 cent of 1796, with the fraction ""2"h-" on the
base of the reverse.
1801. None issued.
1802 to 1808, inclusive. Same as 1800. From 1808, the fraction ""2"h,.
omitted.
·
1809 to 1811, inclusive. Same type as cent of 1808.
1812 to 1824, inclusive. None issued.
1825 and 1826. Same type as cent of 1808.
1827, None issued.
1808, with thirteen stars. No. 2.
1828. No. 1. Same type as cent
Same, with twelve stars.
1829. Same, with thirteen stars.
1830. None i,sued.
1831 to 1836, inclusive. Same type as cent of 1808.
1837 to 1839, inclusive. None issued.
1840 to 1857, inclusive. Same type as No. 2 cent of 1837; size, 14.

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90

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

THOMAS JEFFERSON,

an eminent American Statesman, and third President of the
United States, was born. April 2, 17 43, at Shadwell, Virginia, near the spot which afterwards became his residence,
with the name of Monticello. He was the oldest son in a.
family of eight children. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a.
man of great force of character and of extraordinary physical strength. His mother, Jane Randolph, of Goochland, was
descended from an English family of great note and respectability. Young Jefferson began his classical studies at the age
of nine, and at seventeen he entered an advance class at William
and Mary College; on his way thither, he formed the acquaintance of Patrick Henry, who was then a bankrupt merchant,
but who afterwards became the great orator of the Revolution.
At college, Jefferson was distinguished by his close application,
and devoted, it is said, from twelve to fifteen hours per day to
study, and we are told became well versed in Latin, Greek,
Italian, French, and Spanish, at the same time proficient in his
mathematical studies. After a few years course of law under
Judge Wythe, he was admitted to the bar in 1767. His success in the legal profession was remarkable ; his fees during the
first year amounted to nearly three thousand dollars. In 1769,
Jefferson commenced his public career as a member of the
Virginia House of Burgesses, in which he had while a student
of law, listened to Patrick Henry's great speech on the Stamp
Act. In 1773 he united with Patrick Henry and other revolutionary patriots in devising the celebrated committee of correspondence for disseminating intelligence between the Colonies.
of which Jefferson was one of the most active and influential
members. He was elected in 177 4 to a convention to choose
delegates to the first Continental Congress at Philadelphia,
and introduced at that convention his famous "Summary vie-w
of the rights of British America." On the 21st of June, 1775,
Jefferson took his seat in the Continental Congress. His
reputation as a Statesman and accomplished writer at once
placed him among the leaders of that renowned body. He
served on the most important committees, and among other
papers drew up the reply of Congress to the proposal of Lord
North, and assisted in preparing in behalf of the Colonies, a
declaration of the cause of taking up arms against the Mother
Country. The rejection of a final petition to King George,
destroyed all hope of an honorable reconciliation with England.
Congress, early in 1776, appointed a committee to draw up a
Declaration of Independence, of which Jefferson was made
Chairman; in this capacity he drafted, at the request of th

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91

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

other members of the committee, (Franklin, Adams, Sherman,
and Livingston), and reported to Congress, June 28, the great
Charter of Freedom, known as the " Declaration of American
Independence," which, on July 4, was unanimously adopted,
and signed by every member present, with a single exception.
"The Declaration of Independence," says Edward Everett,
"is equal to anything ever borne on parchment, or expressed
in the visible signs of thought." "The heart of Jefferson in
writing it," adds Bancroft, "and of Congress in adopting it,
beat for all humanity." After resigning his seat in Congress,
Jefferson _revised the laws of Virginia; among other reforms,
he procured the repeal of the laws of entail, the abolition of
primogeniture, and the restoration of the rights of consc;ence,
a reform which he believed would abolish "every fibre of
ancient or future aristocracy;" he also originated a complete
system of elementary and collegiate education for Virginia.
In 1779, Jefferson succeeded Patrick Henry as Governor of
Virginia, and held the office during the most gloomy period of
the Revolution, and declined a re-election in 1781. In li83,
he returned to Congress, and reported the treaty of peace,
concluded at Paris, September 3, 1783, acknowledging the
independence of the United States. He also proposed and
carried through Congress a bill establishing the present Federal
system of coinage, which took the place of the English pounds,
shillings, pence, etc., and also introduced measures for establishing a Mint in Philadelphia, (the first public building built
by the general Government, still standing on Seventh street,
east side, near Filbert). In 1785, he succeeded Dr. Franklin
as resident Minister at Paris. In organizing the Government
after the adoption of the Constitution, he accepted the position
of Secretary of State, tendered him by President Washington
during his first term. Jefferson was Vice-President 'of the
United States from 1797 to 1801, and President for the two
consecutive terms following. After participating in the inauguration of his friend and successor, James Madison, Jefferson
returned to Monticello, where he passed the remainder of his
life in directing the educational and industrial institutions of
his native State and entertaining his many visitors and friends.
His death occurred on the same <lay with that of John Adams,
July 4, 1826.

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92

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OP

ALEXANDER HAMILTON,

Statesman, orator, and financier, born in the West Indian
island of Nevis, 11th of January, 17 5 7. His father was a Scotch
merchant, and his mother was thedaughterofa French Huguenot.
He was educated at King's College, N. Y. When he was 18
years of age he surprised the people by his pubiic speeches and
pamphlets in favor of American independence. He was commissioned Captain of a Company of Artillery in March, 1776,
and serv.ed with distinction at the battles of Long Island, White
Plains, Trenton, and Princeton, and was appointed Aid-de-camp
and Private Secretary to General Washington in March,
1777, and gained his special favor and confidence in planning
campaigns and devising means to support the army. In 1782
he was elected a member of the Continental Congress, and
Washington expressed the opinion that no one excelled him in
probity and sterling virtue. He was an active member of an
anti-slavery party in New York, and offered a resolution in
1784, that every member of that society should liberate his own
slaves. He was a delegate to the convention which met in
Philadelphia in May, 1787, to form a Federal Constitution and
to promote the Union of the States, and it appears was the
principal author of the movement. Hamilton was appointed
Secretary of the Treasury in 1789, at the time the nation was
burdened with a heavy debt, almost destitute of credit, and
on the verge of bankruptcy. The results of his financial policy
were the restoration of public credit, protection to American
industry, and a rapid revival of trade and commerce. He resigned his office to resume his practice of law, January 31,
1795. He declined the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States previously tendered him. Washington testified his great esteem for Hamilton by consulting
him in the preparation of his Farewell Address, as well as
in many other acts of his noble career.
.
In 1804, Aaron Burr, presenting himself as a candidate for
Governor of New York, but Hamilton opposed his election
expressing the opinion that "Burr was a dangerous man and
unfit to be trusted with power." The election of Gen. Lewis
blasted the ambitious projects of Burr, who insolently demanded an explanation of Hamilton, and finally challenged
him, Hamilton accepted the challenge, was mortally wounded
at Weehawken, and died July 12, 1804. His death was profoundly lamented throughout the country.
N0TE.-His eldest son had been killed in" duel by a political adversary about 1802°
Mr. Hamilton was the principal author of the Federalist., and the real father of our
tl.nancial system. Immediately after adopting the constitution, he strongly advocated
the establishment of a Mint, so that the New World would not be dependant on the Old
for a circulating medium.

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93

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

HON. JAMES PUTNAM KIMBALL,
PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF ALL THE MINTS,

was born in Salem, Mass., April 26, 1836.

After graduating
the High School of his riative town in 1854, he entered
ihe Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University. In
the summer of the following year he went to Germany, and
matriculated at the University of Frederick Wilhelm, Berlin,
in the Fall of the same year, and was graduated at the University of George Augusta, at Gottingen, in the Autumn of
1857, with the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of
Philosophy. Upon his graduation he entered upon a practical course in Mining and Metallurgy, at the Mining School
of Freiburg, in Saxony.
Aftet making a tour of the Continent and England, he returned home and engaged as the Assistant of Prof..J. D.
'Whitrn:,y, now of Harvard University, in the State Geological
Surveyb of the States of Wisconsin and Illinois, embracing
the Upper Mississippi lead region. He continued with Prof.
Whitney during rr,e survey, comprising the soutHeastern part
of Iowa.
On the establishment of the New York State Agricultural
College at Ovid, the foundation of which was subsequently
merged with that of Cornell University, Dr. Kimball was
appointed to the Chair of Professor of Chemistry and Economic Geology. Upon the appointment of the President of
the college, Gen. Patrick, as Brigadier-General of Volunteers,
Dr. Kimball became that officer's Chief of Staff, with a commission from the President of the United States, as Assistant
Adjutant-General of Volunteers, with the rank of Captain.
This was in 1862. His first service in the field was with the
Army of the Rappahannock, under Gen. McDowell. He took
p,wt in numerous engagements, notably, those of Groveton,
Manassas, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. G,eneral Patrick having been assigned to duty as Provost-Marshal of the Army
of the Potomac·, Capt. Kimball accompanied him, and served
on the General Staff, of that army under Generals McClellan,
Burnside, Hooker, and Meade, successively.
When the army went into winter quarters, Capt. Kimball,
whose health had become impaired, resigned from the army,
and settled in New York. He resumed the practice of his
profession as Mining Engineer and Metallurgist. Upon his
marriage, in 187 4, he accepted an honorary Professorship in
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., removing from New York
t,o one of the houses in the beautiful park and grounds of that
<it

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

institution, though retaining his office and business m New
York City.
Dr. Kimball has been largely identified with the mineral
development of Bedford County, Pa., and at the time of his
appointment 11.'l Director of the Mints, WM President of the
Everett Iron Company, whose blast furnace, built in 1883-84,
is one of the largest and finest in this country. As a scientist
he is a contributor to various scientific journals at home and
abroad, aud among others the American Journal of Science,
published at New Haven. Several of his papers have appeared
in the proceedings of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, of which he has been Vice President. Dr. Kimball has
traveled extensively in the United States, Mexico, and the
West Indies, in prosecuting his professional practice,. and as a.
man of scientific accomplishments and of affairs, bears a deservedly high reputation.
Dr. Kimball comes of Revolutionary stock. His paternal
great-grandfather, William Russell, of Boston, was associated
with the Sons of Liberty, and the leaders in public affairs in
the times that tried men's souls. He was present, disguised as
as an Indian, and assisted in the famous Tea Party in Boston
harbor on the memorable 16th of December, 1773. Later,
Mr. Russell was adjutant of the Massachusetts Artillery, rai!,ed
for the defense of Boston, and which served in the Rhode
Island campaign of 1777-78. Still later, while serving as
Secretary to Commander John Manley, of the U.S. war vessel
Jason, Uussell was captured by the British frigate Surprise,
and confined in Mill prison till June 24, 1782, when he was
exchanged. But so sturdy a patriot could not rest unemployed,
and twenty days after his liberation, found him again in the
naval service. He was again made prisoner by the British, in
November following, and consigned to the notorious British
prison ship, Jersey, lying off New York.
An anecdote is related by Mr. James Kimball, father of the
subject of this sketch, in a memoir on the Tea Party in Boston
harbor furnished the Essex Institute Historical collections
(187 4), which illustrates the temper of Mr. Russell as a patriot.
Returning to his home after the destruction of the tea, he took
off his shoes, and carefully dusted them over the fire; he then
took the tea canister and emptied its contents. Next morning
he had printed on one side of the canister, "Coffee," and on
the other, "No Tea." This was the brief decree of banishment promulgated by the Tea Destroyers, and the prohibited
luxury disappeared from their tables.

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THE VNJTED STATES MINT.

95

HON. JOHN JAY KNOX.

Late Comptroller of the Currency, now President of the NaNational Bank of the Republic, New York City, we are
indebted to The Financier, August, 1885, for the following
biographical sketch :
Hon. John Jay Knox was Comptroller or Deputy Comptroller of the National currency for seventeen years. He was
bor:.1 in Oneida county, New York, March 19, 1828. His ancestors were Scotch Irish, and came originally from Strabane,
County Tyrone, Ireland, in 17 59. He received his early education at the Augusta Academy and the Watertown Classical
Institute, and was graduated from Hamilton College in the Class
of 184g. Among those in college with him were Senator Hawley
of Connecticut, and Chas. Dudley Warner. After leaving college he b9came teller in a bank at Vernon, of which his father
was President, at a salary of $300 a year, where he remained
from 1850 to 18.52. He spent some time in the Burnet Bank
at Syracuse, and was afterwards cashier of the Susquehanna.
Valley Bank at Binghampton. He and his brother, Henry
M. Knox, established a banking house at St. Paul, Minnesota,
in 1857, shortly before that State was admitted into the Union.
The first steamboat launched on the Red River of the North,
establishing a most important communication for the business
interests of Minnesota, was transported in the dead of winter
across country on runners, from Sauk Rapids to Breckenridge,
and Mr. Knox was one of the few who paid the expenses of
the enterprise.
In the financial discussions which preceded the establishment of the National banks, Mr. Knox took a prominent part,
and made many valuable suggestions on the currency question.
He advocated a safe and convertible currency, the issue of a.
uniform series of circulating notes to all the banks, and the
guarantee by the Government of circulation secured by its
own bonds.
In 1862 he was introduced to Secretary Chase and the Hon.
Hugh McCulloch, then Comptroller of the currency. The attention of the Secretary had previously been attracted to the
financial articles of Mr. Knox, published in Hunt's Merchants'

Ma_qazine.
He was shortly afterward appointed to a clerkship under
Treasurer Spinner, and was subsequently transferred to the
office of Mr. Chase, as disbursing clerk, at a salary of $2,000
a year. After three years in this position he became cashier
of the Exchange National Bank at Norfolk, Va., but finding

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

the southern climate uncongenial, after a year he returned to
Washington. He was commissioned by Secretary McCulloch
to examine the mint at San Francisco, and to select a site there
for a new one. His report upon the Mint service of the
Pacific Coast was printed in the Fina.nee Report of 1866, with
a complimentary notice by the Secretary. The site selected
was purchased from Eugene Kelly of New York for $100,000.
He subsequently visited New Orleans and discovered a deficiency of$1,100,000 in the office of the Assistant Treasurer.
He took possession of that office, and for 1,ome weeks acted as
Assistant Treasurer of the United States.
'l'he promotion of Mr. Knox to the office in which he was
able to do himself the most credit, and perform those services
w the country which are part and parcel of its financial progress, occurred in 1867. At this time a vacancy was brought
about in the Deputy-Comptrollership of the Currency. and
Secretary McCulloch appointed him to fill it. Until May 1,
1884, he remained as Deputy or head of the Bureau, his terms
of office being as follows: Five years as Deputy-Comptroller,
from 1867 to 1872; five years as Comptroller, from 1872 to
1877, appointed by General Grant; five years, second term
as Comptroller, from 1877 to 1882, by President Hayes, on
the recommendation of Secretary Sherman-the reappointment being made without his knowledge, before the expiration
of the preceding term, and confirmed by the Senate without
reference to any committee. He was again reappointed, by
President Arthur, April 12, 1882.
· In 1870 he made an elaborate report to Congress (Senate
Mis. Doc., No. 132, XLI. Cong., 2d Sess.), including a codification of the Mint and Coinage laws, with important amendments, which was highly commended. The bill which accompanied the report comprised, within the compass of twelve
pages of the Revised Statutes, every important provision contained in more than sixty different enactments upon the Mint
and Coinage of the United States-the result of eighty years
of legislation. This bill, with slight amendments, was subsequently passed, and is known as" The Coinage Act of 1873 ;"
and the Senate :Finance Committee, in recognition of his services, by an amendment, made the Comptroller of the Currency an ex-officio member of the Assay Commission, which
meets annually at the Mint in Philadelphia for the purpose of
testing the weight and fineness of the coinage of the year.
Through his official reports, twelve in number, and his
addresses on the currency question, Mr. Knox has indirectly
exercised great influence in financial legislation, and he took

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

:an active, though quiet and unassuming part, in the great
financial coup d'etat of the resumption of specie payment.
In April, 1878, he accompanied Secretary Sherman and
Attorney-General Devens to New York, and arranged a meeting between these two members of the Cabinet and the officers
•of ten of the principal banks of the city at the National Bank of
Commerce, with the view of negotiating the sale of $50,000,000
•Of 4½ per cent. bonds, the avails of which wern to be used for
resumption purposes. The Presidents of the banks, who were
present, gave Secretary Sherman no encouragement as to the
purchase of the bonds at the rates proposed by him. Upon
the return of the Secretary and Comptroller to the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, in the evening, they were met by August Belmont, who had a cable· dispatch from the Rothchilds, authorizing a purchase of the whole amount at a premium of one and
one-half per cent. for the account of the syndicate. Upon the
following day the Secretary and the Comptroller returned to
Washington, after an absence of three days, and the success
of the negotiation was announced, much to the chagrin of some
members of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, who were then bitterly opposing the scheme pr9posed by the Secretary for the resumption of specie payments.
·This negotiation was the first of a series of brillia!lt financial
transactions preceding and following resumption on January
1, 1879.
•
Subsequently he arranged a conference, which was held in
·the Treasury at Washington, in the evening, between leading
,bank officials of New York and Secretaries Sherman and
Evarts, which resulted in the admission of the Assistant
Treasurer as a member of the clearing house, and the receipt
:by the banks of legal tender notes on a par with gold; and in
1881, by request of President Garfield, he attended a conference in New York between the leading financial men of the
city and Secretary Windom and Attorney-General Mc Veagh,
which resulted in the issue and successful negotiation of three
.and one-half per cent. bonds.
At the time of his resignation, Mr. Knox was the oldest
·officer in term of service in the <lepartment. One of the leading financial writers in the country, in noticing his retirement,
in the Nation said :
"The retirement of Mr. John Jay Knox from the office of
Comptroller of the Currency is a loss to the public service of
no common kind. The intelligence which he has brought to
.the complicated duties of his office has never been surpassed
:in any similar station, and has not been equalled in the par-

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ILLU8TRATRD lll8TORY OF

ticular station which he has so long filled. The National
banking system owes much of its present carefulness in detail
management to his mastery of all the facts and principles of
sound finance. His annual reports embrace perhaps the most
complete and satisfactory arrangement of information needful
to the business-man, the student, and the legislator that ha.sever been furnished in this country on any economical subject.
Mr. Knox resigns the Cqmptrollership to take the Presidency
of the National Bank of the Republic of New York City."
In a speech before the Merchants' Club of Boston, in February, 1885, Mr. Knox alluded to the subjects of civil servicereform and the coinage of silver in the following trenchant
language:
" The platforms of both parties in the late campaign contained nothing but platitudes upon the silver question, which
should have been the burning issue. The candidate of the
Republicans seemed to avoid the issue in his letter of acceptance, rather than to express the sentiments of the best men in
his party. 'fhe candidate of the Democrats said nothing.
Yet I am told by good authority that Governor Cleveland is
earnest in his desire to stop the coinage, and that nothing
would please him more than to have a clause inserted in an
appropriation bill which would repeal the law which was passed
in the interest of silver miners when the who_Ie production is
not equal, according to Edward Atkinson, who is an authority
upon such subjects, to the production of eggs by the hens of
this country! If Governor Cleveland has the bottom and
pluck to carry out these two reforms, his administration will
be one of the most memorable in the annals of the country.
It will elevate not only every branch of the civil service, but.
will greatly improve the character of the representatives sent
to Congress from every State of the Union, and will serve to
lift the depression which now burdens every industrial interest.
It will require some intellect to work out these reforms. But
it will require more bottom than brains, and if he has the grit
to stand by his pledges, he will have the united support of all
intelligent, upright, and honest men everywhere without distinction of party."
Mr. Knox has written a valuab1e book, which is justly popular, entitled'' United States Notes." It is published by the
Scribners, and republished in London, and is a history of the
various issues of paper money by the Government, and is said
by George Bancroft to be "a clear, thorough, able, accurateand impartial work 011 United States Notes."

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.
------

----

THE Co1NAGE AcT oF 1873.
The enactment of the Mint Law of 1873 marks an era in
the Mint Service of the United States. Prior to this, the
Director of the Mint at Philadelphia was the Director of all
the Mints-the institution at Philadelphia being regarded as
the" Mother Mint," and the others, at San .Francisco, New
Orleans, etc., were called Branch Mints. Each branch had
its Superintendent, reporting direct to Philadelphia. But the
authors of the Act of 187 3 regarded the Mint Service as so
large and important a part of the Government, that it shoul<l
be constituted a separate Bureau of the Treasury, with the
Director located at Washington. '.l'he principal author of this
Act was the Hon. John Jay Knox, late Comptroller of the
Currency, and now President of the National Bank of the
Republic, New York. The following sketch of the origin and
history of the new law may prove of interest. It was originally published in Rhodes' Journal of Banking, July, 1884.
Referring to Mr. Knox, the author says:
"In 1870 he made an elaborate report to Congress (Senate
Mis. Doc. No. 132, XLI. Cong., 2d Sess.), including a codification of the Mint and Coinage laws, with important amendments, which was highly commended. The method adopted
in this codification was, first, to arrange in as concise a form
as possible the coinage laws then in existence, with such addiThe
tional sections and suggestions as seemed valuable.
proposed bill was then printed upon paper having a wide
margin, and transmitted to the officers of the different Mints
and Assay offices, and to such other gentlemen as were known
to be conversant and intelligent upon the subject of the coinage, with the request that the printed bill should be returned
with such notes as experience and education should dictate.
In this way the views of many gentlemen who were conversant
with tPese subjects were obtained, with but little inconvenience
to such correspondents. This correspondence was subsequently
published by order of Congress, in H. R. Ex. Doc. No. 307,
XLI. Cong., 2d Ses,. Having received these suggestions, the
bill, which comprised within the compass of eight or ten pages
of the Revised Statutes every important provision contained in
more than sixty different enactments upon the Mint and Coinage of the United States-the result of eighty years of legislation-was prepared and submitted to Congress. 'l'his bill,
with but slight amendments, was subsequently passed, and was
known as 'The Coinage Act of 1873 ;' and the Senate Finance

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

·Committee, in recognition of the services of the Comptroller of
the Currency, by an amendment, made that officer an ex-officio
member of the Assay Commission, which meets annually at
the Mint in Philadelphia for the purpose of testing the weight
=and fineness of the coinage of the year. Upon his suggestion
the coinage of the silver dollar was discontinued, and the para. _graph in the report upon this subject was as follows:
" The coinage of the silver dollar-piece, the history of which
is here given, is discontinued in the proposed bill. It is by
law the dollar unit; and, assuming the value of gold to be
fifteen and one-half times that of silver, being about the mean
ratio for the past six; years, is worth in gold a premium of
about three per cent., its value being $1.03.12, and intrinsically
more than seven per cent. premium in our other silver coins,
its .value thus being $1.07.42. The present laws consequently
.authorize both a gold dollar unit and a silver dollar unit, differing from each other in intrinsic value. The present gold
dollar-piece is made the dollar unit in the proposed bill, and
the silver piece is discontinued."
The first Director of the Mint under this new law, was the
Hon. Henry R. Linderman. The title of the chief officer at
Philadelphia being changed to Superintendent-the first in-cumbent with that title was the Hor,. James Pollock.
Biographical notices of these officers will be found in their
.appropriate place in this volume.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

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DIRECTORS OF THE MINT.

__ ..... __

DAVID RITTENHOUSE,
FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE MINT.

Entering the Cabinet, the portraits of the different Directors attract attention. That of David Rittenhouse is the
copy of a painting by Charles Willson Peale. Mr. Rittenhouse was appointed by Washington, April 14, 1792, and remained in charge of the Mint until June, 1795, when his
declining health compelled him to resign.
At an early age he indicated mechanical talent of a high
order in the construction of a clock, and his studies from that·
time were principally mathematical. His genius soon attracted attention, and he was appointed by the colonial governor a surveyor, and in that capacity determined the famous.
Mason and Dixon line. He succeeded Benjamin Franklin 88President of the American Philosophical Society. Mr.
Barber, late Engravt;i_r of the Mint, executed a bronze meJal
of Dr. Rittenhouse. Possibly, excepting Duvivier's head of
Washington after Houdon, it cannot be surpassed in the Cabinet. The engraver had a very fine subject, and treated it in
the highest style of art. On the obverse is "David ,Rittenhouse," with date of birth and death. On the reverse, inscrip-tion, ' 4 He belonged to the whole human race."-" Wm. Barber." This beautiful memento is highly prized.
HENRY WILLIAM DESAUSSURE,
SECOND DIRECTOR OF THE MINT.

The portrait of Henry William Desaussure, now in the cabinet, was painted by Samuel Du Bois, from a daguerreotype
taken from a family picture. This Director was distinguished
for his legal ability, as well as his strict integrity. He entered
upon his duties with a protest, as he claimed no knowledge of
the requirements of the position, having long been a practicing
lawyer; but he was reassured by Alex. Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury, and proved himself a fine officer for theshort term of his service. He was appointed by Washington,
July 8, 1795, but resigned in the following October. Washington not only expressed regret at losing so valuable an officer~.
but consulted him as to the selection of a successor.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

ELIAS BOUDINOT,
THIRD DIRECTOR OF THE MINT,

was appointed October 28, 1795, and remained in office eleven
years. In the summer and autumn of 1797 and the two following years, and also of 1802 and 1803, the Mint was closed
on account of the ravages of the yellow fever. Mr. Boudinot
resigned in 1805, and devoted the remainder of his life to
benevolent and literary pursuits. He died on the 24th of
October, 1821, at the advanced age of eighty-two. The fine
portrait of this venerable Director seen in the Cabinet was
presented by a relative, and is a good copy of a painting by
Waldo and Jewett.
ROBERT PATTERSON, LL.D.,
FOURTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT,

was appointed by President Jefferson, January 17, 1806. He
was a native of Ireland, distinguished for his acquirements
and ability. He held the office of Director for an exceptionally long term of service. His portrait, which hangs in the
Cabinet, is a copy of a fine original by Rembrandt Peale.
SAMUEL MOORE, M.D.
FIFTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT,

was appointed by President James Monroe, July 15, 1824.
He was a native of New Jersey, and the son of a distinguished
Revolutionary officer. He was one of the first graduates of
the Penn University, in 1791, and was afterwards a tutor in
that institution. During his directorship the Mint was removed to the present building. His portrait was painted from
life by B. Samuel· Du Bois, now in the Cabinet.
ROBERT MASKELL PATTERSON, M.D.
SIXTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT,

son of a former Director, was appointed by President Andrew
Jackson, May 26, 1835. His term of office was marked by
an entire revolution in the coinage, and the ready acceptance
of those improvements which followed so rapidly upon the introduction of steam. Dr. Patterson possessed the advantage
of foreign travel; and having become familiar with the discoveries which had been adopted in the French Mint, he inaugurated and perfected them, also introducing improvements,
which are still in use, in the machinery of the Mint. Hi1
portrait is in the Cabinet .

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

GEORGE N. ECKERT, M. D.
SEVENTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT,

was appointed by President Fillmore, July 1, 1851.
served nearly two years, and, resigning, was followed by

He

THOMAS M. PETTIT,
EIGHTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT,

who was appointed by President Pierce, April 4, 1853. He
-died a few weeks after his appointment. No portrait of him
in the Cabinet. He was succeeded by
HON. JAMES ROSS SNOWDEN, LL.D.
NINTH DIRECTOR OF THE MINT.

Mr. Snowden, who was appointed by President Pierce, .June
8, 1853, was formerly a member of the State Legislature, and
served two terms as Speaker ; was afterwards elected for two
terms as State Treasurer. During his official term the building was made fire-proof, the large collection of minerals was
added, and nickel was first coined.
Mr. Snowden has placed the numismatic world under ma,ny
obligations, by directing the publication of two valuable quarto
volumes,-one of them a description of the coins in the Cabinet, under the title of " The Mint Manual of Coins of all
Nations," the other " The Medallic Memorials of Washington,"
being mainly a description of a special collection made by
himself. In the preface to the former work he gives due
credit to the literary labors of Mr. George Bull, then Curator,
and also to a reprint of the account of the ancient collection,
by Mr. Du Bois, who also furnished other valuable material.
These books are valuable as authority, and by reason of the
national character of the last mentioned.
JAMES POLLOCK, A.M., LL.D.,
TENTH DIRECTOit Al\D FIRST 8L'PERINTENDENT,

-was appointed by Abraham Lincoln in 1861, and was re-appointed by President Grant to succeed Dr. Linderman in 1869
to 1873. Born in Pennsylvania in 1810; graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1831, and commenced the practice
of the law in 1833 ; he served in Congress three terms; was
dected Governor of Pennsylvania in 1854, and in 1860 was a
peacedelegate to Washington from his State to counsel with
representatives from different parts of the Union as to the possibility of amicably adjusting our unhappy national troubles.
His portrait, by Winner, hangs in the eastern section of the
Cabinet.*
* After the resignation of ex-Governor Pollock the title of Director was changed to
Superintendent. The Director of all the Mints is now located at Washington.

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ILLUSTRATED llISTORY OF

HENRY RICHARD LINDERMAN, M.D.,
ELEVENTH DIRECTOR AND AGAIN FIRST DIRECTOR UNDER NEW MINT LAW

a. native of Pennsylvania; born December 26, 1825. He
was the son of Dr. John Linderman, and commenced the practice of his profession with his father in 1845. His association
with the United States Mint began in 1853, when he was
made chief clerk. He was appointed eleventh director of the
Mint by Andrew Johnson, April 1, 1867, but resigned in 1869.
COL. A. LOUDON, SNOWDEN,
SECOND Sul'ERINTENDENT.

was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and descends
from one of the old families of Pennsylvania.
He was educated at the Jefferson College in Washington,
Pennsylvania. On the completion of his collegiate course he
studied law, but on May 7, 1857, just before being admitted
to the bar, accepted the position of Register, tendered him by
his uncle, the late Hon. James Ross Snowden, then Director
of the United States Mint.
In 1866, a vacancy having occurred in the office of Coiner
of the Mint, he was appointed by the President, and entered
upon the duties of this office October 1, 1866.
At the request of President Grant, in 1876, he was induced
to accept the Postmastership of Philadelphia.
He assumed the duties of that office January 1, 1877, with
much reluctance, but soon manifested as Postmaster the same
capacity for thorough discipline and organization which had distinguished him in the Mint. President Hayes, in December,
1878, tendered him the position of Director of all the Mints
of the United States, made vacant by the expiration of the
commission of Dr. Linderman. After the death of Dr. Linderman the President again sent for him and urged his acceptance of the place, which he was believed to have declined previous to Dr. Linderman's death from motives of delicacy,
having long been the friend of the late Director.
This offer he again declined, as the acceptance of it would
necessitate his removal from Philadelphia to Washington.
In the following February the President again made a ten:.
der of office. This time it was the superintendency of the
Philadelphia Mint, and, as its acceptance of it restored him
to a service agreeable to him in every particular, and permitted
him to remain among his friends in Philadelphia, he promptly
accepted, and assumed control of the Mint on the 1st of March,
1879, and continued in charge of the "Parent Mint" of the
United States until June, 1885, when he resigned his commission.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

105

In January, 1873, he was elected vice-president of the Fire
Association, one of the oldest and largest fire insurance companies of the United States. In 1868 he was elected its president. In October, 1880, he was elected president of the
"United Fire Underwriters of America," an organization
embracing the officers of more than one hundred and fifty of
the leading American and foreign companies doing business in
the United States, representing a capital of over $118,000,000.

DANIEL M. FOX.

Hon. Daniel M. Fox, the new Superintendent of the United
States Mint, was born in this city on the 16th of June, 1819.
His ancestors, both on his father's and mother's side, are not
without fame, many of them having figured more or less conspicuously in the early history of the country. Daniel Miller,
his maternal grandfather, took quite a prominent part in the
Revolutionary war, being present with Washington at Germantown, Pa., New Brunswick, N. J., the Highlands, N. Y., Valley
Forge, Pa., the siege of Yorktown, and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. During the campaign
in New Jersey he was taken by the British as a spy and
brought to Philadelphia, but effected his escape and rejoined
the army. At the termination of the war he finally settled
with his family in the old Northern Liberties, where Mr. Fox's
grandfather, by the father's side, John Fox, resided. Here
Daniel's father and mother were born, and here he himself
first saw the light, and was reared and ,educated.
His parents were possessed of very little of this world's
goods, but that did not prevent them from ~iving their son a
liberal education, which he was not backward in taking advantage of. After leaving school the first two years were employed as clerk in a store, after which he turned his attention
to conveyancing, as he intended to make that his permanent
profession. He devoted the next five years to the close study
of all its intricate details in the office of the late Jacob F.
Hoeckley, who at that period stood at the head of the profession in this city, and graduating with eminent credit he commenced practice for himself.
The profession is one affording many temptations to men
who are not well grounded in strict integrity, and sustained in

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ILLUSTRATED HISTOitY OF

the paths of rectitude and virtue by a conscientious regard for
the meum and tuum of a well-ordered business life; but Mr.
Fox, looking upon his profession as one of dignity and trust,
soon commanded and permanently secured the confidence of
the public, by avoiding those speculative ventures which have
brought so much disrepute upon it, and by a scrupulous regard
for the interests of those who placed their property in his
keeping. In consequence, the business entrusted to him has
increased to such an extent from year to year that it is said he
has more estates in his charge for settlement, as administrator,
<lXecutor, or trustee, than any other single individual in Philadelphia. His practice constantly increasing as time rolled on,
the laws touching real estate operations becoming more complicated year by year, and appreciating the necessity in many
,cases for court proceedings to secure perfection of title, he
submitted himself to a legal examination, and was admitted to
the Philadelphia bar in November, 1878.

His PUBLIC CAREER.
His first step in public life was at the age of, twenty-one,
when he was elected a member of the Board of School Direc-tors of the district in which he then lived, and for many years
prior to 1854, when the city was consolidated, and the law in
that regard changed, he was President of the Board. For
many years he had taken an active interest in the public
schools, and was a pioneer in the night-school system for
adults. He was chosen two consecutive terms by the City
Councils as a Director of Girard College, and also represented
the Northern Liberties in the Board of Health, having charge
of the sanitary matters and the quarantine regulations of the
city, and was quite actiye and efficient in the abatement of the
,cholera, which was epidemic here twice during the nine years
he served in that Board.
Fo_r three years he represented his ward in the Select
Council of Philadelphia with credit and ability. In 1861 he
retired from Councils, and in the year following was unanimously nominated for the Mayoralty by the Democratic party.
The city at that time was strongly Republican, and he was
defeated by Hon. Alexander Henry, although he ran largely
ahead of his ticket. In 1865 he again received a unanimous
nomination for the same office, and ran against Hon. Morton
McMichael and with the same result. His personal popularity,
however, was in the ascendant, and when he was placed in
nomination in 1868 against General Hector Tyndale, he was
duly elected.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

On January 1, 1869, he was inaugurated, and his first
official duty as Mayor was to formally receive on behalf of the
city authorities General Grant as President-elect. 'l'he reeeption took place in Independence Hall, in the presence of
Councils and a large number of prominent citizens, ancl was
conducted on the part of the new Mayor with ease, grace, and
elegance. His municipal administration was marked by many
reformatory and sanitary measures, especially in those portions
of the city where the impurity of the denizens hazarded the
health of more respectable neighborhoods .. It was during his
official term that the Volunteer Fire Department ceased to
exist. It had been his practice during its closing days to attend all conflagrations for the double purpose of holding a
moral check on the lawless and to stimu;tate the police in their
duties of keeping the streets clear for the free exercise of those
whose business it was to extinguish the flames. The passage
by Councils of the ordinance establishing a Paid Fire Department created a profound sensation in the city, arousing the
bitter feelings of many of the volunteer firemen, and kindling
an intense anxiety on the part of the people generally as to
the fate of the bill when it reached the hands of the Mayor.
He retained it for a fortnight, unsigned, evidently desiring to
soften the feeling engendered by its passage, and also to perfect such arrangements as would be necessary to meet any
emergency in carrying the act into effect. The latter being
accomplished, he formally approved the ordinance and it became a law. This course was very unpalatable to the riotous
element of the volunteers, who manifested their feelings in
various ways, such as suspending the effigy of the Mayor in
several engine houses, but no other violent demonstrations of
any moment occurred, as the steps taken by his officers proved
effective and rigorous; these, coupled with the co-operation of
many of the discreet firemen, enabled the new "Paid Department" to go into operation without any disturbance whatever,
and the city has ever since rejoiced in an efficient system without any of the former accompaniments of noise, riot, and
public disturbance.
A startling attempt at assassiRation occurred during Mayor
Fox's incumbency, in the shooting of United States Revenue
Detective James Brooks, in open day, in a Front street store,
by some miscreants. The case was at once taken in hand by
the Mayor, who by stimulating the police and offering heavy
rewards caused the arrest of the parties. Their conviction
soon followed. Whenever any question of grave public im\1': l'tance presented itself, it was his practice to invite con-

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

ferences with the most prominent citizens at his office, as to
the best course to be pursued; thus, while showing a true devotion to the public interests, he was enabled to act with great
sagacity; he also brought to his support the power of eloquence,
which he p@ssesses in an eminent degree; this added much to his.
popularity. He did not hesitate to use the veto whenever he
differed with Councils, and during his term he transmitted to
these bodies thirty-two messages of this character, the majority
of which were sustained. His official term ended in a most
gratifying manner, both chambers of Councils unanimously
passing resolutions of thanks for his able and energetic administration of the city's affairs. This was followed by a grand
banquet at the Academy of Music, tendered to him by our
most distinguished citizens, irrespective of party. In two successive State conventions he received complimentary votes for
the Gubernatorial nominations.
The great International Exposition in commemoration of the,
centennial anniversary of the birth of our nation was held in
this city in 1876. · In the preparation for this grand demonstration, in its opening and down to its close, in the autumn of
that year, Mr. Fox took a leading part, the incipient step having been taken in the Mayor's Office during his administration, in a consultation with a committee from the Franklin
Institute, who waited upon him for that purpose. As an active,
and earriest member of the Centennial Board of Finance,
which had charge of all the funds for the Exposition, Mr. Fox
contributed his time, his means, and his voice greatly to it.a
promotion and final success.
Once more Mr. Fox was called to the discharge of an important public duty. For a number of years a controversy
had existed between the general Government and the railroad
corporations with reference to the transportation of the United
States mails, the former complaining that the service was not
satisfactorily rendered, and the latter that they were not adeq uately compensated.
On the 12th of July, 1876, Congress passed a bill authorizing
the President to appoint a Commission of three civilians to investigate the subject and make report upon it. Mr. Fox was
one of the appointees, his colleagues being selected from other
States. The Commission, in the exercise of its functions,
visited every section of the country, embracing a distance of
travel of over twenty-eight thousand miles. Sessions were
held in all the principal cities, much testimony taken, and
when its labors were completed a report of great value was
prepared and presented, which went far towards a satisfactory
settlement of the controversy.

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MINT.

Mr. Fox's participation in the philanthropic and benevolent
movements of the city has always been unlimited. As President of The Pennsylvania Society for the Protection of Children from Cruelty, 1.'rustee of the Pennsylvania Institution for
the Deaf and Dumb, and in his connection with many other
-charitable works, his constant aim has been the alleviation of
the sufferings and the general welfare of his fellow men.
Personally, Mr. Fox is "of dignified and distinguished pres,ence, yet in manner affable, courteous, and kind. Always
interested in his fellow men, he draws men toward him and impresses them with the sincerity of his nature and the unselfishness of his purpose. Love of justice is one of the strong
characteristics of the man, and his life has been singularly free
from the petty strifes which disfigure the lives of so many who
have had to fight their battle against odds. His selection for
the Superintendency of the Mint being unsought, was a just
tribute to his unquestioned integrity and his eminent abilities
as a public man. 'fhe country is fortunate in his preferment,
and his administration of the affairs of the Mint will fitly
crown an honored career.
Superintendent Fox has greatly improved the immediate
surroundings of the Mint since his entrance upon duty. The
.areas have been cleared of rubbish, temporary wooden structures demolished, where it is possible to dispense with them,
.and a systematic policing of the premises has been adopted.
The plots on either hand of the entrance on Chestnut street
-show some happy efforts to please the eye, in a renewal of the
sward and landscape gardening in colors. The fine specimens
-of American cypress in the centre of these plots seem to have
borrowed fresh attractions from their new and beautiful setting, and their foliage contrasts pleasingly with the clumps of
foliage plants and exotics beneath. Throughout the premises the supervision of a thorough business man is apparent;
nothing seems to escape the eyes of the vigilant Superintendent.

COINERS.
HENRY VoIGT, the first Chief Coiner, was appointed by
"President Washington, January 29, 1793. He was selected
-on account of his mechanical knowledge and skill, being a
-clockmaker by trade. Many of our old families bear witness
to the skill of Mr. Voigt in the affection they hav-e for many
.an '' old clock on the stairs," for the manufacture of which
timekeepers he was quite famous. Mr. Voigt held office until
removed by death in February, 1814.

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OF

ADAM EcKFELDT was born in Philadelphia, June 15, 1769.
He was trained to mechanical pursuits by his father, who waa
a large manufacturer of edge-tools and implements. On theestablishment of the Mint he was engaged to construct some
of the machinery for it. He built the first screw-coining
presses. The contrivance for ejecting the piece from thecollar, together with some other mechanical appliances, were
his invention.
In an old pay-roll of 1795 (see page 12), we find the nameot "Adam Eckfeldt, Die Forger and Turner." His official
connection dates from January 1, 1796, when he was appointed Assistant Coiner by Director Boudinot, with theconsent of President Washington. Upon the death of Henry
Voigt, Mr. Eckfeldt was appointed to succeed him as Chief
Coiner: and remained in that position until he resigned, in
1839. He continued to visit the Mint for some years after;
and he is yet remembered as a hard worker in the Mint,
without compensation. For half a century he was one of thecentral figures of the Mint service. His mechanical skill, his
zeal, energy, and uprightness, brought him many distinctions~
both as an officer and a citizen.
In his letter of resignation he warmly recommends theappointment of Franklin Peale, in tho following terms:
"I feel it my duty, in leaving office, to recommend that my
place be filled by Mr. Franklin Peale, the present Melter and
Refiner. Our close association as fellow-officers has made meacquainted with his peculiar qualifications, and I thereforeknow him to be fitted for the situation ; and I do not know any
other person that is." He had a high ideal of what a chief
coiner should be.
Mr. Eckfeldt died February 6, 1852, in his 83d year.
FRANKLIN PEALE was the son of Charles Willson Peale, the
eminent artist and founder of Peale's Museum. Born in the
Hall of the American Philosophical Society, October 15, 1795,
he was presented to the society by his father, when four months
old, as "the first chilcl born in the Philosophical Hall," and
with a request that the society should name him. He was accordingly named after the chief founder and first President of
the Society-Franklin.
Young Peale early showed a taste for mechanics, and his
father gave him every facility to improve himself in any direction in which nature seemed to lead him. Part of his general
education was received at the University of Pennsylvania and
part at the Gtrmantown Academy. At the age of seventeen
he entered the machine shop of Hodgson & Bro., Delaware.

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STATES

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MINT.

He soon grew to be a skilled mechanic and draughtsman.
Some time after he became manager of his father's Museum.
He assisted Baldwin in the construction of the first locomotive
built in this country. In 1833 Mr. Peale entered the Mint
service, and was sent to Europe by Director Moore to examine
into foreign Mint methods. He brought with him valuable
apparatus for the Assay Department, together with other important improvements and suggestions. He was appointed
Melter and Refiner in 1836 and Chief Coiner in 1839. He
introduced the first steam coining press, the milling machine
and some other of our more modern forms of Mint machinery.
Mr. Peale's administration as Chief Coiner may be said to
mark an era in the mechanic arts of Minting. Being specially.
fitted, by natural genius as well as education, for the position
which he adorned, his mildness, integrity, gentlrmanly bearing
and high moral and mental culture constituted liim a model
officer. His connection with the service lasted until 1854.
He died on the 5th of May, 1870.
GEORGE K. CHILDS, appointed December 12, 1854.
LEWIS R. BRoOMALL, appointed June 30, 1861.
JOHN G. BUTLER, appointed November 30, 1863.
A. LOUDON SNOWDEN, appointed October 1, 1866.
(For sketch of A. Loudon Snowden, see list of Direct.on
and Superintendents, page 92.)
COLONEL 0. C. BosnYRHELL. On the 4th of May, 1869,
Ex-Governor Pollock, then Director of the Mint, appointed
Col. Bosbyshell Register of Deposits. His course in the Mint
was so satisfactory that, without solicitation, he was made
assistant coiner by Col. A. L. Snowden, the then coiner, on
the 1st of October, 1872. Upon Col. Snow<lcn's appointment
as Postmaster of Philadelphia, Col. Bosbyshell was appointed
Coiner of the Mint by President Grant, on the 15th of December, 1876, and remained in that capacity until January,
1885, when, to the regret of all parties having business relations with him, he tendered his resignation to accept a responsible position in the Controller's Office, tendered him by his
friend, Col. Robert P. Dechert.
WILLIAM S. STEEL was born in the City of Philadelphia,
on the 1st of March, 1841. He received a good common
school education, and in 1856 entered the office of David
Cooper & Co., at Girard's wharves, remaining engaged in mercantile pursuits till 1861. At 19 years of age he was appointed
by Colonel James Ross Snowden, then Director of the United
States Mint, First Assistant Weigh Clerk. In this position

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

he served continuously through Colonel J. Ross Snowden, ExGovernor Pollock, and Colonel A. Loudon Snowden's administrations. In September, 1862, just before the battle of Antietam, Mr. Steel entered the State service, and served with the
Thirty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, until discharged by expiration of term. When Colonel A. Loudon
Snowden was transferred to the Post Office, January, 1877,
Mr. Steel, upon the recommendation of the then Coiner,
Colonel 0. C. Bosbyshell, became Assistant Coiner, a position
he filled in a most acceptable manner, until Colonel Bosbyshell's retirement in February, 1885, when he was made
Coiner.
ASSAYERS.
JACOB R. EcKFELDT, Sixth Assayer, was born in Philadelphia, 1846. He entered the Assay Department, as Second
Weigher, in 1865. By regular promotions he rea~hed the
position of Assistant Assayer in 1872, and upon the death of
his superior, he was appointed and confirmed as Assayer, December 21, 1881. The position of Assayer is one of great
responsibility, and demands not only scientific training, but
wide and special knowledge and experience upon subjects relating to the history and arts of Coinage. Since the foundation of the Mint there have been but six official heads of this
department.
PATTERSON Du Bors was born in Philadelphia, 1847. He
entered the Assay Department of the Mint, as Second Weigher,
in January, 1867, and by regular promotions attained the
position of Assistant Assayer, to which he was appointed in
January, 1882.
MELTERS AND REFINERS.
JOSEPH CLOUD, appointed January, 1797; served until January, 1836 (39 years).
FRANKLIN PEALE, appointed ,fanuary 5, 1836.
JONAS R. McCLINTOCK, appointed. February 19, 1840.
RICHARD S. McCuLLOH, app:::inted in April, 1846 ; served
until April 1, 1849.
JAMES CURTIS BOOTH, Melter and Refiner, was born in
Philadelphia in 1810, educated in the same place, and graduated in the University of Pennsylvania 1829. After study
and field practice in the Rensselaer School, at Troy, N. Y., in
1831-32, under the late Professor A. Eaton, Mr. Booth
studied Practical Chemistry in Germany, in 1833-34-35, in
the laboratories of Professors F. Wohler and G. Magnus, and

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

in visiting accessible manufacturing establishments in Germany and England having relation to chemistry. The late
Prof. J. F. Frazer and Mr. Booth were the two Assistants on
the Geological Survey of Pennsylvania in its first year, 1836.
Mr. Booth next had charge of the Geological Survey of Delaware in 1837-38 (being often assisted by Prof. Frazer), and
published his report on the survey in 1839-40.
Mr. Booth, observing the great deficiency in the knowledge
of Applied Chemistry in his native place, opened a laboratory
for teaching the same, by chemical analysis and by operating,
in 1836, and the same laboratory has been continued successfully to the present time by Dr. T. H. Garrett and Mr. A.
Blair.
With the same object in view, Mr. Booth lectured at the
Franklin Institute for nine successive winters, giving three
full courses of lectures, each of three winters' duration (18361845).
Prior to 1850 Mr. Booth published the Encyclopredia of
Chemistry, being the author of the m3:jority of the articles
~ontained in it, with valuable contributions by Prof. R. S.
McCulloch and others. It was a valuable adjunct 'to the study
-of chemistry for many years.
The Director and officers of the Mint unsuccessfully solicited
the appointment of Mr. Booth as Melter and Refiner of the
Mint in 1838-40, but in 1849 Mr. Booth obtained, through
l1is friend, Mr. Meredith, the appointment, over the signature
of President Z. Taylor, and has continued in the same position
from that date to the present writing (1885), a period of more
than thirty-four years.
ASSISTANT MELTER AND REFINER.
NATHANIEL B. BOYD, Assistant Melter and Refiner, was
born in Philadelphia, January, 1832. Twenty years later, he
was graduated with honors at Burlington College. After
leaving College he studied law, and was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar in 1854. In 1869 he accepted an appointment
in the National Mint, tendered him by Director Pollock. In
187.3 he was appointed Assistant Melter and Refiner, a. position
which he still occupies (1885).
THE MINT ENGRAVERS.
(Extract from Patterson Du Bois' Biographical Sketch of '' Our Jllint Engravers.")

Whatever may be said concerning the peculiar responsibili- •
-ties of the officers of the Mint, who are occupied with the

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OP

various operations of turning bullion into coin, it must beconceded that none of them occupies a position so dubious
and, in some ways, so uneviable as the Engraver. In th&
general transactions of the Mint, he is the most retired-the
most obscure--of its officers ; yet his card is in every one's
pocket.
As to the types of coinage, the standards are as numerous,.
as the eyes that water for them, and there is no piece but may
be said to be outside of somebody's tolerance. No other artist
undergoes such an ordeal, for those who do not admire this
painting or that statue are not compelled to hug and hoard
it, much less to toil for its possession. The engraver who can,
from his retired window, see the critical millions clutching for
his little relievos, is in some sort a hero ex-officio, and it hM
been well suggested that we look briefly upon the uneventful
lives of this worthy line of officers.
I. Robert Scot received his appointment as the first Engraver of the Mint, November 23, 1793. Information is
wanting as to his nativity, but at the time of his appointment
he seems to have been turning the down-hill of life. He is.
remembered as rather under size, and as an honorable and
agreeable gentleman.
According to Loubat, Joseph Wright was "appointed first a..
draughtsman and die-sinker to the United States Mint, and
made the dies of a medal, the bust on t}ie obverse of which
was considered to be the best medallic profile likeness of Washington.* He also made the medal voted by Congress to Major
LeE>." Wright died in 1793.
II. William Kneass, second of the line, was born in Lancaster, Pa., September, 1781, and was appointed Engraver
January 29, 1824. Mr. Kneass had been chiefly a plate·
engraver for book-work. There were some changes in the
coinage during his term, notably in 1834 and 1838, for gold,
and 1836, 1837, 1838, and 1840, for silver. But some of
this work was done by Gobrecht as assistant. Kneass appears
upon a pattern half dollar of 1838; but the silver dollar of
1836, as well as a pattern half of 1838, were the work of his
assistant. Prior to his appointment he had an engraving
office on Fourth above Chestnut street, Philadelphia, which
was a well-known rendezvous for the leading wits and men of
culture, for which Philadelphia was then eminent.
Mr. Kneass died in office, August 27, 1840. A good engraving of him hangs in the Assayer's Office, inscribed "~
• The Phototype of Washington's Profile likeness in the bound edition of this boo~

ti from this Medal, known as the Houdon MedaL

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

his friend Adam Eckfeldt, Chief Coiner,"-who had been
chiefly instrumental in securing his appointment.
III. Christian Gobrecht was appointed December 21, 1840,
to fill the vacancy made by the death of Kneass. He was
born in Hanover, York Co., Pa., December 23, 1785. In
1811 he went to Philadelphia, and became an engraver of
bank notes, seals, palico printers' rolls, bookbinders' dies, etc.
In 1836 he received an appointment as assistant to Mr.
Kneass at the Mint, in which capacity he executed some important work. Among other similar performances he was
highly commended for his Franklin Institute Medal.
Christian Gobrecht continued in office until his death, July
23, 1844.
IV. James B. Longacre was born August 11, 1794, in
Delaware Co., Pa. He served an apprenticeship as a line
engraver with George Murray, Philadelphia, and did some
high class plate-work before he was free, in 1819. He was
one of the originators of the National Portrait Gallery of
Distinguished Americans, the first volume of which appeared
in 1834. Longacre drew from life and engraved many of the
portraits entire.
Like his predecessors, he died in office-January 1, 1869.
During his term Mr. Longacre was variously assisted by P. F.
Cross, William Barber, Anthony C. Paquet, and William H.
Key. Cross was born in Sheffield, England, served several
years in the Mint here, and died in 1856. He engraved the
obverse of the Ingraham medal. Paquet was born in Hamburg, 1814, emigrated 1848, served as assistant 1857 to 1864,
died, 1882. He engraved the medals of Grant, Johnson,
Buchanan, Everett, and the Life Saving Medals, with some
• others. Key is a native of Brooklyn, was appointed an
assistant, 1864, and is still in the service. He executed the
Kane Expedition and Archbishop Wood Medals. The changes
and additions during the Longacre term were numerous and
important, both as to alloys and denominations. The pattern
pieces also record various experiments in the art of coining.
V. William Barber, fifth Engraver of the Mint, was born
in London, May 2, 1807. He learned his profession from his
father, John, Barber, and was employed on silver-plate work,
after his emigration to this country.
He resided in Boston ten years, and was variously employed
in his line of work. His skill in this way came to the knowledge of Mr. Longacre, then Engraver of the Mint, and he
secured his services as an assistant in 1865.

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In January, 1869, upon the death of Mr. Longacre, he was
-appointed as his successor, and continued in that position for
the remainder of his life. His death, which resulted from
severe chills, brought on by bathing at the seashore, occurred
in Philadelphia, August 31, 1879.
Besides much original work on pattern coins, he also produced over forty medals, public and private. .The work on .all
of them was creditable, but we may specify those of Agassiz,
Rittenhouse, and Henry, M very superior specimens of art.
Mr. Barber was assisted b'y Mr. William H. Key, Mr. Charles
E. Barber, and Mr. George T. Morgan.
VI. Charles E. Barber, sixth Engraver, is a son of the
preceding, and was born in London in 1840. He was appointed an assistant in _1869, and became the official head by
promotion in 1880, to fill the vacancy caused by his father's
death. The appointment was not unmerited. One of Mr.
Barber's latest cards to the public is the new five-cent piecea successful venture in very low relief. But his handiwork is
more or less visible in all the principal medals executed since
1869. Since his appointment as Chief Engraver, the work
of his department has been enormously increased by the
number of medal dies demanded for the War Department and
from other Government sources. Mr. Barber's best work is
seen in the medals of Presidents Garfield, Arthur, Indian
Peace, Army Marksmanship, and Great Seal. He is particularly happy in "catching a likeness." The head of
Superintendent Snowden is a rare specimen of medallic portraiture.*
Messrs. Key and Morgan are the Engraver's assistants.
The former has already received notice; the latter, Mr. George
T. Morgan, was born in Birmingham, England, in 1845; he
studied at the Art School there, and won a National Scholar- ·
ship at the South Kensington, where he was a student two
_years. He is best known to the country by the so-called
"Bland dollar," which is his design and execution.
We have reason to congratulate both the Government and
the people that the engraving service is well and judiciously
furnished.
BENJAMIN RUSH,

An eminent physician and philanthropist, was born near Phila-delphia, December 24, 17 45 ; he graduated from Princeton
College in 1760; he afterwards studied medicine in Edinburgh,
- -- - - - - -- . - - -- - - - - .
• Mr. Barber has latel:, completed a large and very fine medallic likeness of President
Cleveland.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

London, and Paris; returning to this country, he was elected.
Professor of Chemistry in the Medical College of Philadelphia..
in 1769. In 1776 he was elected to the Continental Congress,
and was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence in the same year; he was afterwards appointed SurgeonGeneral of Revolutionary Army, and voted for the adoption
of the Oonstitution of the United States in 1787. Dr. Rush
was a popular lecturer, and eminently qualified as a teacher
of medicine. When the yellow fever scourged the City, and
the public buildings were closed in 1799 and 1800, he was
very successful in his treatment of the victims of that epidemic. It is said that he visited and prescribed for one
hundred patients in a single day. He was treasurer of the
first United States Mint during the last fourteen years of his
life. Dr. Rush died in Philadelphia in April, 1813. Among
his nine children was Richard Rush, the statesman.
NOTE.-Dr. Rush was the author of the first pamphlet on temperance published In
this country, showing the injurious effects of alcoholic drinks on the human sy•tem1
and is justly regarded as the father of the temperance movement, the Centennial 01 ·
which has lately been celebrated throughout the United ftat••· September, 1885.

CASHIER.
MARK H. COBB, the Cashier of the Mint from 1871 until the
present time (1885), was born in Colebrook, Connecticut, in
1828. In 1861, Hon. Simon Cameron, then Secretary of War,
appointed him Chief Clerk in the War Department, he having
previously been his private secretary. After Mr. Cameron's
resignation as Secretary, Mr. Cobb, at the solicitation of the
late Col. John W. Forney, accepted the position of Enrolling
Clerk of the United States Senate in 1862. In 1871 he was.
appointed to the responsible position of Cashier in the United
States Mint.
ALBION Cox, first assayer of the Mint was appointed April
4, 1794.
His commission, signed by Washington, until
recently, hung upon the walls of the assay office. But little is
known of Mr. Cox, save that he was an Englishman by birth,
and a good officer, as appears from the following report to the
Secretary of the Treasury made by Director Boudinot, under
date, December 3, 1795. He says: "The sudden and unexpected death of the assayer, Mr. Albion Cox, on Fryday
last by an apoplectic fit, deprived the Mint of an intelligent
officer, essentially necessary to the future progress in the coinage of the precious metals. Until this officer is replaced, the.
business at the Mint must be confined to striking cents only."
He therefore held office about a. year and eight months.

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Joseph Richardson, second assayer, was appointed December
12, 1795. He belonged to an old Quaker family distinguished
for ability and character. Mr. Richardson fulfilled the duties
of his office with credit and honor He died in March, 1831.
A water color portrait of him, dressed in plain Quaker garb,
hangs in the assayers' room. He held office over thirty-five
years.
John Richardson, son of the preceding, was appointed
assayer March 31, 1831. Finding the office not·congenial with
his tastes, and so subjecting him to undue responsibilities, he
resigned April, 1832, holding office only a little over a year.
CURATOR.
R. A. McCLURE, a gentleman skilled in the science of
numismatics, was appointed Assistant Curator of the Coin
Cabinet in ] 868, and, upon the death of the Assayer and
Chief Curator in 1881, the responsibilities of the Curatorship
fell upon Mr. McClure.
STANDARD WEIGHTS.
The earliest series of standard weights now known, are two
sets discovered by Mr. Layard in the ruins of Nineveh. They
a.re now in the British Museum. William the Conqueror
decreed the continuance, as the legal standard, of the pound
in use by the Saxons. This and other standards of weight
and measure were removed by the King from the City of
Winchester to the Exchequer at Westminster, and placed in
a consecrated building in charge of his chamberlains. The
place of deposit is said to have been the crypt chapel of Edward the Confessor, in Westminster Abbey. In 1866 the
office of Exchequer was abolished, and the Standards Department of the Board of Trade was established in London, assuming charge of the standards-an arrangement still in force.
The old Saxon pound was the earliest standard of England.
It was identical in weight with the old apothecaries' pound of
Germany, and equal to 5,400 of our later Troy grains. The
pound sterling was determined from this weight in silver.
Henry III., in 1266, decreed the following standards: The
sterling, or penny, to weigh equal to thirty-two wheat corns,
taken.from the middle of the ear; twenty pence, one ounce;
twelve ounces, one pound; eight pounds, one gallon of wine,·
which is the eighth part of a quarter. The idea of the grain
was borrowed by the English from the French, and the Black
Prince brought back with him from France the pound Troye,

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

which was derived from the commercial town of that name.
The use of the Troy standard was adopted by the druggists
and jewelers, on account of its convenient reduction into
grains.
The pound avoirdupois, weighing 7,000 grains Troy, (Fr.
Avoir-du-poids, '' to have weight''), first appears in use during
the reign of Edward III., and it, as well as the Troy pound,
has been employed without change ever since. In the year
1834 the English standards of weight and measure, consisting
of a yard and pound Troy of brass, were destroyed by fire
at the burning of the Houses of Parliament. A few years
later a commission of scientific men was appointed to determine upon the restoration of the standards. This resulted in
a succession of difficult problems resultant upon the oxidation
to a greater or less extent of duplicates of the standard still
existing, as also of the variation of the cubic inch of water, as
in use in different lands. A cubic inch of distilled water,
weighed in air against brass weights, at a temperature of 62
degrees Fahr., the barometer being at 30 inches, had been determined by scientific men to be equal to 252.458 grains, of
which the standard Troy pound contained 5,760.
As the unit of length was also lost, a series of experiments
was made in the vibration of a pendulum in a vacuum, marking seconds of mean time in the latitude of London at the level
of the sea. These deductions, however, failed to be satisfactory,
and the commission was compelled to fall back upon the best
preserved of the duplicate standards existent. The Imperial
Standard Pound is declared to be the true weight of an avoirdupois pound in a vacuum. It is a curious fact that the Imperial standards of platinum (which metal is not subject to
oxidation), although balancing brass weights in a vacuum,
weigh in air more than one-half a grain heavier than the latter.
This is due to their greater displacement of space.
The unit of weight in the United States is a Troy pound
weight obtained from England, a duplicate of the original
standard fixed by the commission of 17 58, and reasserted by
the commission of 1838. It is a brenze weight of 5,760 grains
Troy. It is kept in a strong safe at the United States Mint,
in Philadelphia. The President appoints an assay commission,
whose members meet at Philadelphia annually, upon the second
Wednesday in February, open the safe, and compare the copies,
or the working weights, with the original upon the most delicately poised balances. Working standards of weights and
measures are supplied by the Secretary of State to the State
governments, which in turn supply them to the sealers of

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

weights and measures of the various countries, who must compare with the State standard
once a year.
All of the scales and delicate test instruments in useby the government, not only
in Philadelphia Mint, but at.
the several branch mints, aremanufactured in this country,
and as examples of wonderful mechanical machines of
minute accuracy they lead
the world. Some of them
are the work of Mr. Henry
Troemner, of Philadelphia,
to whom, it is proper to say,
the writer is largely indebted
for the facts given in thi&
article. Mr. Troemner, in
the capacity of government.
expert, makes frequent visit.a
to the most distant points in
TROY STANDAI!D POUND WEIGHT.
the Union for the verificaFae-simile, exact size.
tion of national standards.
The Treasury Department made an especial request of him toexhibit at the 1-lew Orleans Exposition, a line of his fine·
balances.
EXTRACT FROM CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED ,STATES.
ARTICLE I., Sect. 8. The Congress shall have power . . . to coin money,
regulate the value thereof and of foreign coins, and fix the standard of
weights and measures, . . . to provide for the punishment of counterfeitingthe securities and current coin of the United States.
ARTICLE I. Sect. 2. No State shall .•. coin money, emit bills of credit,.
make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts, •.•

EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF
THE MINT.

Drns

AND MEDALS.

Fewer dies for coinage were prepared during 1884, at thePhiladelphia Mint than in the previous year, a less number
being required for striking subsidiary silver and minor coins.
The total number of dies manufactured for medals and coinagewas 1,520, of which 132 were for the gold, 388 for the silver,
and 958 for the minor coinage; 36 for proof and experimental

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

coins, and 6 for medals. Sixty coinage dies were prepared for
the New Orleans Mint, 49 for Carson, 160 for San Francisgo,
and 1,209 for Philadelphia.
The number of medals struck at the Philadelphia Mint
during the year aggregated 10,777; of which 97 were of.gold,
524 of silver, 777 of bronze, and of goloid from planchet.s
furnished for the "Toronto semi-centennial," 10,000.
During. the same period 3,992 medals and 4,118 proof set.a
were sold, and the receipts from this source amounted to
.$12,410.48.
COINAGE.

The coinage of gold was about eight millions less than in
the previous year. This was caused in part by the diminished
receipt of gold bullion at the San Francisco Mint, where the
deposits of gold of domestic production fell off three and a.
half, and the total deposits of gold about three millions of dollars; and in part by a lessened coinage of gold at Philadelphia, which mint was principally occupied in manufacturing
silver and minor coins.
BARS.

Besides the manufacture of coin, gold bars of the value of
$23,875,585.57, and silver bars of the value of $7,639,724.42
-a total of $31,515,309.99-were prepared at the mints and
assay offices.
Silver Coins of the United States.
Denominations.

Coinage
Standard A
.
com- Coinal(C Amount coined ·weil(hl
mount forwhrnh
menced. ceased. to June 30, 1884.
grains'.
a legal tender.

Sl 75,355,829 00

Standard dollars .........

1878

Trade dollars-....••......

1873

1878

Dollars .......................

1793

1873

Half dollars ...............

1793

Qua:·ter dollars...........

1796

Twenty cents .............

1875

Dirnes .......................

1796

Half dimes .................

1793

Three cents ................

1851

35,959,360 00

412.5

Unlimited.

420.

Not a legaltender.

8,045,838 00

412.5

Unlimited.

122,765,735 00

192.9

Ten dollars.

38,495,918 75

96.45

271,000 00

77.16

Five dollars.

18,293,172 50

38.58

Ten dollars.

1873

4,906,946 90

19.29

Five dollars..

1873

1,281,850 20

11.52

Five dollars.

1878

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ILL USTRATED HISTORY OF

FAC SIMILE REPRODUC'T!O:KS OF CONTINENTAL CUURENCY.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.
UNITED STATES MrnT OFFICERS.
Washington, D. C., James P. Kimball, Director of the lllint ..............................
Philadelphia, Pa., Dauicl M. Fox, Superiutcmlent...............................................
Bois(• Citv, lctaho, Norn1au H. ( 'a1np.................................................. ...... ............
Carson Clt~ N_eva<la, .Jaiuel'J_ Crawford, Huperiutemleut. .......................................

il~i~Et~~-~:::~~-1m!~n;,~~~/~;;i
;~.:~~E~:;;.::;:.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
,r.

84,500
4,!iOO
2,000
3,000

ti~

New Orleau~,._ La., .Arnlniw
:--imyth, Huperintemlent. ........ .............................. 3,:)00
New York, .N. Y., Andrew ~laso11, :-;up('rinternlent.. ................. .... ..........•....•••••••• 4,!lU0
.sn.n Francisco, Cal., ~~t.lw. F. Burton, :---uperintemlt-ut. .......................................... 4,.'l00

""L, Louis, l\lo., Eliot C, Jewett, As~ayer .............................. -., ............................. 2,500

WILLIA:\! E. DU BOIS.
Extract from an obituary nmiee by Robert Patterson.
{Read before the American Philosophical Society, November 18, 1881.)

William Ewing Du Bois was born at DoylPstown, Pennsylvania, DecemThrough his father, Rev. l'riah Du Bois, he was descended
from Louis Du Bois, a French Huguenot of honorable extraction, who emigrated to America in l(iliO, se!'king freedom of religious worship, and, in
connection with others of his countrymen, fornwd the settlement of New
Paltz, l:lster County, New York. Through his mother, l\Iartha Patterson,
daughter of Professor RobPrt Patterson, of the university of Pennsylvania,
he inherited the 8cotch-lri,h element which has exerted so marked an
influence in the development of our country.
The father of Mr. Du Buis was a Presbyterian clergyman, in charge of
churches in and near Doylcstown, and wa.s principal of the Union Academy
at that place, a classical school then and afterwards of high reputation. He
was greatly respected, l,oth as preacher and teacher.
The bright and stmlious mind of l\Ir. Dn Bois gathered every advantage
from his opportunities, and he was well furnished in the classics and mathematics, and in English literature. While yet a boy he developed a freedom and capacity as a writer quite remarkable.
His oldest brother W,o,'! an eminent member of tl1e bar, and it seemed
fitting that Mr. Du Bois should, under his guidance, adopt the law as his
profession. He accordingly pursued the U8Ual course, in the meantime
aiding to support himself by literary work and conveyancing, and wa.s
admitted to practice in 8<'ptemher, 1832. But his health failing him on
account of a bronchial aflection, he accept('d an appointment in the Mint
at Philadelphia, and thllti began the life-work by which his reputation wa.s
established.
Mr. Du Bois entere:I the Mint in September, 1833, and was first employed
in the office of the Director, Dr. Moore. In 1835, at the request of the
Assayer, Mr. Jacob R. Eckfeldt, he was transferred to a more congenial
position in the assay department. Here he continued for the remainder of
his life. In 1836 he was appointed Assistant As.~ayer. In September, 1872,
he succeeded Mr. Eckfeldt as Assayer, and remained at the head of the department until his death, July 14, 1881, thus completing nearly forty-eight
years of Mint service.
Mr. Du Bois early took rank as an accomplished assayer, and long before
his death had reached the head of his prof<'ssion.
The close intimacy between Mr. Du Bois and Mr. Eckfeldt developed
into warm friendship. The tie was made closer by the marriage of Mr.
Du Bois, in 1840, to 8usanna Eckfeldt, the sister of his chief. I shall have
to speak of published works and scientific communications appearing under
the names of Eckfeldt and Du Bois. Although it wa.s understood that Mr.
Du Bois was the sole literary author, yet no separate claim of authorship
-was made by either. Whatever of reputation was earned, each was contented that it might be shared by the other, and jealousy never for ·a
moment weakened a union that bound them for life.
ber 15, 1810.

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

In the year 1834 a change took place in the ratio of gold to silver in the
standard of U.S. coins, the effect of which was to bring large deposits of
gold to the Mint. The coinage previously had been chiefly of silver. The
more equal supply of the precious metals gave active employment in the
assay of each of them, and was, of course, most valuable as an experience
to Mr. Du Bois, who about this time became connected with the assay department.
In 1837, on revision of the Mint laws and standards brought about by
Dr. Robert M. Patterson, then Director a reform was effected in the
method of reporting assays, the millesimaf system taking the place of the
time-honored but cumbrous method of carats and grains. About this time,
also, the older plan of assaying silver was abandoned, the humid assay
being s11bstituted, and largely worked under the direct supervision of Mr.
Du Bois.
About 1838 branch mints were organized in the States of Louisiana,
Georgia, and North Carolina. The labors and responsibilities of the Philadelphia assay department were increased by this development, partly from
the necessity of instructing assayers for the new branches, and partly in
testing the correctness of the a~says made there.
In 1848 the great discovery of gold in California was made known. This
brought a tremendous pressure on every department of the Mint, and not
the least on the assayers. The gold coinage was, in three years, raised from
a little over three million dollars to more than sixtv-two millions. Th11
assays were often counted by hundreds in a day. But whatever the pressure
in the office, accuracy ruled, and the correctness of the assays was never
impeached.
In 1853 a change was effected in the law for providing subordinate silver
coins. This brought about, for some years succeeding, an unprecedented
coinage of that metal, and still further increased the labors of the assay
department.
He instituted the Cabinet of coins which now adorns the Mint. This
was commenced in 1838. A small annual appropriation was procured from
Congress for this purpose, and the work of collection committed entirely
to Mr. Du Bois. He brought to it all the enthusiasm which animates most
numismatists, sobered, however, by good judgment. His expenditures were
always judicious. Some of the best of the specimens were cGlled from the
Mint dPposits for the bullion value, merely, of the pieces. After the collection had taken good shape, and been well classified, he wrot.e and published, in 1846, a description of it, under the title "Pledges of History,"
etc. The title thus seJected intimated his opinion as to the real value of
such collections. He thought that a coin should be prized for its historical
teaching, or artistic merit, and discouraged the rage to possess a piece simply because of its rarity. Mr. Du Bois acted as .curator of the Cabinet
until his death.
Another important labor undertaken by Mr. Du Bois (in connection
with Mr. Eckfeldt) was the preparation and publication, iu 1842, of a
"Manual of the Gold and Silver Coins of all nations, struck within the
past century." This was a work of very great labor, and, from its expense,
of some risk also to the authors. It is admirably arranged, the information
clear, and it embraced every subject of interest at that date as to coins,
bullion, counterfeits, etc. Suhsequently, in 1850 and 1851, supplements
were published covering later topics, made prominent in consequence of
the California gold discoveries.
'fhe writing., of Mr. Du Bois were numerous, and continued up to the
year of his death. His papers on numismatics were frequent and always
attractive, his last appearance in print being in April of this year, in an
article on the "Coinage of the Popes." To the "American Philosophical
Society," of which he was elected a member in 1844, he made various communications on behalf of Mr. Eckfeldt and himself, mostly on topics sug-

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THE UNITED STATES MINT,

gested by experiences in the assay department. Among the most curious
wa~ one on "The Natural Dissemination of Gold," by which we were astonished to leern that this precious metal is found in appreciable quantity in
the clays underlying our city.
In 1869 he wrote for the "Bankers' Magazine," "Propositions for a Revised System of ,veights, and a Restoration of Silver Currency." The
development of his views on these subjects is a model of clear exposition,
and the conclusions reached were such as might be expected from a mind
.aiming to attain practical results rather than to impose visionary theriries.
From the beginning he was highly esteen1Pd at the Mint. It was his
.ambition to acquire a knowledge of every branch of the service, and with
his capacity and opportunities this end was attained. He early became the
trusted friend and counsellor of his colleagues, and was able to serve them
in many wayR, perhaps most of all with his ready pen. As time pa~sed,
and forty-eight years of experience was given to him, he was recognized by
all as the Nestor of the Mint service. And here I pause to draw a lesson,
from the example of Mr. Du Bois's life, as to the value of a properly organized civil service. In the department w;t,h which he was connected,
political trsts were never obtruded, and pern,nnence of tenure followed on.
merit. On no other basis could his services have been claimed or retained.
They would have been transferred to a private sphere, probably to his
pecuniar.v gain, certainly to the public loss. He was very accessible, and
ever ready to lend aid from the stores of his knowledge, but in particular
did he delight to instruct and bring forward his younger friend~.
Mr. Du Bois was able to fulfill his official duties until within a few months
of his death. He was fully conscious of his approaching end, preserving
his intelligence to the last, and the faith which had comforted him in this
life supported him at its close.
The following minute was adopted at a meeting of the officers and employees after his decease:
"The remarkably close conformity of the United States coins to the
standard assigned them by law, has been recognized by the highest Mint
authorities of the world to be unsurpassed, if quite equalled. in its uniform
exactness. The founding of such a reputation and its continuance during
the last half-century, are largely due to the joint labors of the late Jacob
R. Eckfeldt and William E. Du Bois."
JACOB R. ECKFELDT.
EXTRACT FROM AN OBITUARY NOTICE.BY

MR. Du Bois.

(R~ad before the American Phi!osophical Society, Oct. 4th, 1872.)

Jacob R. Eckfeldt, late Assayer of the Mint, was the son of Adam and
Margaretta Eckfelclt, and was born in Philadelphia, March-, 1803. He
was, therefore, in his seventieth year, at the time of decease, August 9th,
1872.
In the Spring of 1832, Mr. John Richardson, who had been Assayer
about one year, and did not find the employment congenial to his tastes,
informed Mr. Eckfeldt that he intended to n·sign, and wished him to prepare to take the place. Mr. E. shrank from this responsibility, and declined.
But some of his friends who had influence with President Jackson, presented his name with a strong recommendation and he was appointed without being asked as to his party preferences. This occured on the 30th of
April, 1832. He therefore held the office 01'er fo,./y yeai·s.
When he entered upon the work, he had to encounter some embarrassments. The apparatus was old-fashioned, and not calculated for nice
results. The silver assay had been well performed, without go;ng to a
close figure, for many years; but gold was litt;e known in the country or
.at the .Mint, and it is not surprising that its assay was incorrectly per•

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

formed. Add to this, there was the coarse and cumbrous nomenclature,
brought from the old country, of carats and grains for gold :fineness, and
so many grains to the pound for silver fineness.
Close upon all this, that is to say, in June, 1834, came the celebrated
reduction in the standards of our gold coin1 one of the chief measures of
the Jackson administration. This changed gold from a curiosity to a
currency ; bullion and foreign coin flowed to the mint, and accuracy of
assay was more than ever needful. Mr. Eckfeldt was equal to the emergency, and resolutely introduced reforms, which, at first, made the older
officers stand in doubt.
In those days, about the time the new mint edifice on Chestnut street.
was finishing, Mr. Peale was sent to London and Paris to observe the
methods of assaying and refining, and to procure a new apparatus. We
were thus supplied with French beams, weights, and cupel furnacei:, and
with the appliances of Gay-Lussac's humid assay, and the printed details
of the process. Soon after, Mr. Saxton, famous for his skill in constructing balances and other delicate instruments, returned from a long schooling
in that line in London, and was employed in the Mint. Thus furnished,
Mr. Eckfeldt felt himself "set up," and able to compete with the foreign,
as.sayers, and if he was ever more precise, it was because he disregarded
certain allowances which had become a time-honored custom.
A large importation of fine gold ba::-s from France, known as the French
Indemnity, and which came because Pr~ident Jackson declared he "would
submit to nothing that was wrong," gave a fine opportunity for testing and
comparing foreign assays; a'!d it was generally found that these bars were
somewhat below the alleged fineness. A still more important discovery,
was the fact that British Sovereigns ran below their standard of fineness.
This happened when he had been in office less than three years, and the
Director was unwilling to set the finding of young Eckfeldt against the
experience of Old England. The Assayer being assured and re-assured of
the accuracy of his results, Director Moore consented to notify the British
Government of their error. The result was a closer scrutiny in the London
Mint, and a final acknowledgement that they were wrong. This was no
less a triumph for Mr. Eckfeldt, than it was a contribution to exact science,
and an honor to the American Government.
It is not surprising, that he felt at first the inconvenience of passing from
one form of nomenclature to another, thc,ugh to a better one. A friend
remarks, "I recall conversations with l\lr. Eckfeldt, showing how seriously
he felt the revolution. He would think in carats, and report in decimals ..
And I often recur to this as illustrating the kind of difficulties which would
arise in case of a decimalising of weights and measures."
For some years prior to 1842, Mr. Eckfeldt and his Assistant, in addition
to their ordinary duties, engaged in the preparation of an original and
comprehensive work on the Coins of all Nat ions; on the Varieties of Gold
and Silver Bullion; on Counterfeit Coins, and on other subjects related
thereto. This was published in 1842, and has long been regarded as a
standard authority. In 1850, they issued a supplementary smaller work,
and again in 1852.
As the United States increased in commerce, wealth and population, th&
Mint of course increased in work. In particular, Mexican dollars came in
great qnantitifs for recoinage. Not only were our vaults full, but our entries
and corridors were at times crowded with rows of kegs. Every day, for
years, we had the constant task of sixteen melts of silver ingots to melt and
assay; and it was a great advantage and satisfaction to be supplied with
the humid apparatus.
The success of gold mining in our Southern States, and the increasing commerce of New Orleans, gave rise to the estaulishment of three branch mints.
at the 8011th, in 18:37; and it devolved upon l\lr. Ec!deldt to become schoolmaster, and educate the three assayers appointed for those places. The same,
had to be done again at a latter date for other mints and assay offices.

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

In December, 1848, came the first lot of gold grains from Californ~ ·
and with the opening of the next year the tide set in most powerfully.
shall not here speak of this great turning-point in metallic currency any
further than as it aff~cted the mint, or rather the labor which it laid upon
Mr. Eckfeldt and his department. As is well known, the lots were
numerous, and the aggregate amount was enormous. Instead of making
gold assays by dozens, we had to go through with hundreds every day,
following the arrival of each steamer. We procured young men as operators in the weigh-room and additional workmen in the laboratory; a.nd
in spite all the help we were all overworked. Here let me say that the
persons who have been educated by Mr. Eckfeldt to this profession have
done credit to the selection that was made, not only by skill, diligence, and
good character while here, but wherever they are now scattered to other
mints and assay offices, or to different pursuits.
The gold pressure continued for about five years, when it was relieved
by the creation of a Government assay office in New York, and a branch
mint at San Francisco. But directly sequent to this came the change of
standard in silver coin, causing an immense recoinage in small pieces_
Thus our daily assays continued to count by hundreds. This lasted for
some years. When it began to slacken off, a law was passed for calling in
the large copper coins and issuing in their stead pieces of copper-nickel
alloy of much smaller size.
The analysis of Nickel alloys was not well laid down in the books, and
the European or other assays which came with purchased lots showed an
incorrect determination. Mr. Eckfeldt was therefore obliged to study out
and perfect this assay, which is more tedious and laborious, though of less
consequence, than the assay of the precious metals.
But it was his habit to be as scrupulous in minor matters as in major;
and after the routine was well settled it went on with the same clockwork regularity as the other branches of assaying. I need not say that
this nickel coinage imposed another heavy pressure upon the mint for
_
years.
After this came the substitution of the Bronze alloy; and this called for
another process of assay, and brought us a great deal of work.
l thus hastily review this sequence of gold, silver, nickel, and bronze,
not only as an interesting part of Mint History, but to show the varied and
abundant services of the untiring, energetic Principal As,;ayer, and the
masterly skill with which he met every obligation.
His skill and success as an Assayer am! _.\nalyst largely consisted in his
power of finding out what was defective or erroneous, and in applying the
proper remedy. It often seemed that what was a puzzle to others was to
him a matter of quick insight.
In the assays of certain complex alloys, and of low gradfs of gold and
silver, he contrived various methods which are not in print, but which are
of great use in the daily manipulations.
And here I may state that he not only introduced great accuracy and
precision in the as.,ays, but carried speci:i.l investigations to a delicacy
almost incredible. Thus, much interest was excited by a publication some
years ago, both in this country nnd across the Atlantic, of his experiment
upon the brick-clay which underlies our city. Taking two samples from
the center of the town and the suburbs he found they contained gold at the
rate of nearly 12 grains (say fifty cents) to the ton of clay in its ordinary
moisture. Other experiments went to prove the Yery general diJfosion of
gold, in infinitesimal proportions.
Some analysts, thro11gh want of exactitude, or for the pleasure of making
a sensation, may produce very curious results; but l\Jr. Eckfeldt was conscientious, I may say, nervously scrnpulous, about stating anythin.g he "as
not sure of. Partly for that reason, partly for the very love of work, h&
was laborious to a fault, all his life long.

f

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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

Bars Manufactured at the Different Mints during the Fiscal Year ended
June 30, 1884.
MINTS.

Description.
Philadelphia.

San Francisco.

Carson.

Denver.

GOLD,

Fine bars........................... $521,095 G5
Standard bars.
Unparted bars ........................................... .
Sterling bars.
Mint bars.
Total gold..................

521,095 65

$5,450 64

5,450 64

.................. $1,367,601 10

. ........ .. . ......

1,367,601 10

=--=--=-----_-----=-=-=--=--=----,-----=---=-=-=-=-eel===== ====I=====
SILVER.

Fine bars .......................... .
Standard bars.
48,270 10
Unparted bars ................... .
Sterling bars..................... ........................
Mint bars.
6,012 01

1,234,578 69
61 37

19,426 27

Total silver ................ .

54,282 11

1,234,640 06

19,426 27

Total gold and silver ....

575,377 76

1,240.090 70

1,387,027 37

The profits on the coinage of silver on hand at the coinage
mints on the 1st of July, 1878, amounted to $424,725.47;
the profits on the coinage from that date to the 30th of June,
1884, amounted to $20,972,913.52. Adding to these two
amounts the sum of $9,237.54, refunded by Adams Express
Company for overcharges, and the sum of $4,560.30, carried
to the credit of silver profits on account of surplus bullion and
adjustments of silver values, makes a grand total of silver
profits to be accounted for during the period of $21,411,436.83.
Of this amount $416,223.52 were paid for expenses in distributing the coin, $150,070.77 for loss on silver in sweeps
sold and for silver wasted by the operative officers; making
the net profits $20,845,142.54; all of which have been deposited in the Treasury-$19, 067,697 .84 prior to, ·and
$1,777,444.70 since, the 30th of June, 1884.
SUBSIDIARY COINAGE.

On the 1st of July, 1883, the Philadelphia Mint had on
hand of bu~lion resulting from the melting or uncurrent silver
coins transferred for recoinage, and of silver transferred prior
to July 1, 1883, from the New York Assay Office, and purchased for the coinage of fractional silver, 19,160.09 ounces,
costing $22,465.35.
.
The Superintendent of the Mint at Philadelphia, with the
approval of the Director, purchased in open market, for the
coinage of dimes, for which the demand continued from the
Treasury and the public, 333,446.29 standard ounces, at a
cost of $333,288.06, and purchased from the New York Assay

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

Office during the year, for such coinage, 188,546.16 standard
,ounces, costing $219,399.16; making the total amount at the
Philadelphia Mint available during the year for the fractional
-coinage 541,152.54 standard ounces, costing $575,152.57, of
which 501,104.21 standard ounces, costing $530,659.34 were
-consumed at that mint in the coinage of dimes .
. The Secretary of the Treasury having requested, under date
,of December 1, 1883, the coinage at the San Francisco Mint
-of $50,000 in dimes, the Superintendent of that mint, with
the approval of the Director, purchased 41,199.01 standard
-0unces, at a cost of $41,157.81. Of this amount 40,187.50
-0unces of silver bullion, at standard fineness, costing $40,147.31,
were used in coining dimes.
Upon the bullion purchased· for this coinage the deductions
for charges were equal to 764.46 ounces, costing $763.70,
which amount was transferred and carried into the accounts of
·
the Mint.
Statement of Coinage from the Organization of the Mint to the close of the Fiscal
Year ended June 30, 1884.
GOLD COINAGE.

Period.

Double
eai,;les.

Eagles.

1793 to 1848 .................. $2;\GG2,270
1849 to 1873 $646,727,980 29,851,8:W
383,480
48,283,900
1874 ...........
599,840
32,748,14U
1875 ...........
153,610
37,896,720
1876 ...........
56,200
43,941,700
1877 ...........
155,490
51,406,340
1878 ...........
1,031,440
37,234,340
1879 ...........
21,515,360 18,S:lG,320
1880 ...........
15,345,520 33,:)SD,050
1881 ...........
14/563,920 44,3G9,410
1882 ...........
6,611,790
1883 ........... ,
27,526,120
2,033,040
1884 ...........
23,765,~00

Total.. .... 1,000,955,940 163,133,760

Half
eagles.

Three
dollars.

Quarter
eagles.

Dollars.

$4.'i,2G5,3;35
$5,413,815 OU
22,99-1-,:l!)0 $1,169,913 20,804,702 50 $19,015,633
809,780
125,460
516,UO 00
323,920
203,655
60
2 250 00
20
71,800
135
53,052 50
3,645
67,835
4,464
5,780 00
2,220
688,680
137,850
408,900 00
1,720
1,442,130
109,182 1,166,800 00
3,020
15,79U,860
9,090
3,U75 00
3,030
29,982,180
4,698
9,140 00
3,276
30,473,955
75
62 50
6,025
8,8;)5
1,775,360
4,665
10,137 50
2,116,020
2,955
4,930 00
9,979
151,682,000

Total.
$76,341,440
740,-564,438
50,442,690
33,553,965
38,178,962
44,078,199
52,798,980
40,986,912
56,157,73-5
78,733,864
89,413,447
35,936,927
27,932,824

1,568,547 28,398,795 00 19,381,343 1,365,120,385 00

SILVER COINAGE.

Period.

Trade dollars.

1793 to 1&52.....
1853 to 1873.....
1874..... :..........
1875................
1876. ...............
1877................
1878. ...............
1879. ...............
1880................
1881. ...... .........
1882................
1883................
1884................

.....................
....... ....... .. . ....
S3,588,9oo
5,697,500
6,132,030
9,162,900
11,378,010
.. ...................
.....................
............... ......
.....................
.....................
.....................

Total........

35,959,360

Dollars.

Half dollars.

2,506,890
$66,249,153 00
5,538,948
3j,596,082 50
................... ..
l,4:JS,930 00
.................... .
2,853,500 00
.................... .
4,985,,525 00
................... ..
9,746,350 00
8,573,500
3,875,255 00
27,227,;,00
225 00
27,9:)3,750
3,275 00
27,6:37 ,955
4,677 50
27,772,075
5,-537 50
2,7,59 50
2s,111,1rn
28,099,930
4,465 00
183,401,667

00
50
00
00
50
00
00
00
00
00
50
50
00

122,765,735 00

Quarter dollars. Tc~~~;_Y
$3,999,040
18,002,178
458,515
623,950
4,106,262
7,584,175
3,703,027
112
3,837
3,638
3,268
4,079
3,832

50
00
50
00
50
OU
50
50
51)
75
75
25
50

38,495,918 75

Digitized by

$.5,858
263,560
1,440
142

271,000

Google

130

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF
SILVER COINAGE-Continued.

Period.
1793 to 1852 ........•••••••
1853 to 18i3 ....••.••••••••
1874....•.......••••.••••••.•••
1875..••..............•••••••••
1876...•.......••••••••••......
1877 .......................... .
1878.... ,..................... .
1879.......................... .
1880.......................... .
1881 .......................... .
1882.......................... .
1883.......................... .
1884.......................... .

Total..................

Dimes.
$3,890,062
5,170,733
497,2.55
889,560
3,639,105
2,055,070
760,891
45
1,575
3,695
2,507
717,511
665,160

50
00
80
00

Half dimes.

Three cents.

$1,823,298 90
3,083,648 OJ

$i44,~27 00
5:lu,923 20

00
00

00
00

00
50
50
90
30
4,906,946 90

18,293,172 50

1,281,850 20

Total.
$79,213,371
65,928,512
5,983,601
10,070,368
19, 126,5<12
28,549,935
28,290,825
27,227,882
27,942,4.17
27,649,966
27,783,388
28,835,470
28,773,387

90

70
30
00
50·
00

ro
50
ro
75
75
15

80

405,375,650 35

MINOR COIN.

Period.

Five cents. Three cents. Two cents.

Cents.

Half cents

Total.

1793 to 187a.. $.5,276,140 00 $80.5,350 00 $912,020 00 $4,886,4.52 44 $:!9,926 11 $11,919,888 55
137,935 00, ...............
411,925 00
1874............
244,350 00
29,640 00 ..................
12,540 00 ..................
123,18.'i OOi ...............
230,:37,'i 00
1875............
94,650 00
1876............
132,70) 00
7,560 00 ..................
120,090 001...............
260,350 00·
1877 ............
25,250 00 .................. ..................
36,~1.'~ 00 ...............
62,165 00
1878... .........
80 00
48 00 ..................
30,.ohh 00! ...............
30,694 00
18]9............
1,175 00
984 00 ..................
9\6:19 00 ...............
97,798 001880............
1,247 50
982 50 ..................
267,741 50 ...............
269,971 50
1881............
177 75
32,416 6,5 ...... ............
3n,,H5 5ii ...............
405,109 95
1882............
220,038 75
104 25 ..................
424,614 7,; ...............
644,7ii7 75
858 57 ..................
404,f>H 19 ............... 1,428,307 16
1883 ............ 1,022,774 40
1884............
768,745 25
244 86 ..................
405,719 62 ............... 1,174,709 73

Total. ..... 7,787,328 65

890,728 83

912,020 00

7,306,048 05 39,926 11

16,936,051 64

CIRCULATION OF GOLD AND SILVER IN THE UNITED STATES.

Upon the basis of the annual gains by coinage and import
of coin, less the losses by recoinage, export, and consumption
in the. arts, I estimated in my last annual report the coin circulation of the United States at the close of the last fiscal year
to have been about $765,000,000, of which $537,000,000 was
gold, and $228,000,000 silver. Upon the same basis I estimate the coin circulation on the first of July, 1884, to have
been $802,000,000, of which $250,000,000 was silver, apd
nearly $552,000,000 gold.
In arriving at these figures I have deducted from the silver
circulation six million out of the seven millions of trade dollars
heretofore estimated to constitute a part of the silver circulation, and $4,875,000 gold coin reported to have been used in
the arts, which exceeds the similar deduction for 1883 by
$2,375,000.

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131

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

The net gain to the coin circulation was $14,000,000 in gold
and $22,000,000 in silver, as appears from the following table
giving the exact figures of the gains and losses during the year:
United States coin.

Gold.

Silver.

Circu,latio:n July 1, 1883...............................
Year s coinage............................................

$537,254,794

27,932,824

$228,216,199
28,773,388

$765,470,993
56,706,212

Total...............................................

$.565,187,618

82,56,989,587

ss22,111,2011

84,199
152,031
216,000
6,000,000

8,421,2118
415,148
5,091,000
6,000,000

86,372,230
250,617,:J.'>7
22,401,158

$19,927,406
802,249, 799
36,778,806

Less net exports..........................................
$8,417,059
Deposits for recoinage.................................
263,117
Used in ti\e arts..........................................
4,875,000
Trade flollars withdrawn from circulation ....................... .
Total Joss ....................................... .
Cireulation luly 11 1884 .............................. .
Net gain during tne year ........................... .

$13,55,5,176
551,682,442
14,377,648

Total.

This circulation, from the statements of the Treasurer and
Comptroller of the Currency for the periods nearest to the 1st
of July, wo11ld appear to have been owned on July I, 1884,
as follows:
SILVER,
Belonging to-

GOLD.
Legal tender. Subsidiary.

i:~i~~~f
'i,'~;;k;:::
Other banks........
Private hands.. , ...

*$89,190,346
~7,G82,Rcl8

0,000,000
334,759,248

Total. ...... $551,632,442

Total,

Total United
States gold
and silver
coins.

$68,734,625
11,978,833

$157,924,971
109,661,681

127,243,091

$29,600,720
+3,000,000
42,660,808

169,903,899

534,663,147

$175,355,829

$75,261,528

250,Gl 7,357

$802,249,799

•$.39,133,905
tS,978,833

}

• Less ontstanc.ling certificates.
t Includes Treasury and Clearing House certificates.
t Estimated.

In computing the above table I have deducted from the coin
in the Treasury and added to that in banks and the hands of
private parties the amount of the gold and silver certificates
outstanding, for the payment of which the law requires a corresponding amount of coin to be held in the Treasury.
During the fiscal year of 1884 the Philadelphia Mint was
chiefly occupied with the coinage of silver and minor coins,
and this occasioned a reduced coiuage of gold-only $2,777,154
being coined-although the mint had on hand during the year
over $25,000,000 of gold bullion.
The deliveries of bullion by depositors to the superintendents
of the coinage mints and the New York Assay Office, and transfers to, and receipts from, the operative officers of gold and
silver bullion during the year, involving the weighing, handling,
assaying, and working of more than three hundred and fifty
millions of dollars of bullion, have been accomplished without
any discrepanciee in the accounts of the officers, without loss to
the Government, and with general satisfaction to the public.

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132

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

In fact, there has been a total gain of $68,885.69, or an
.actual excess of, over and above the amount wasted by the operative officers in the business of the year, $28,284.21. From this
it will be seen that, although the law contemplates a loss on the
-operations of bullion and makes provision for its allowance if
bona fide and within the prescribed limits, the business has
been so carefully and honestly conducted that instead of a net
loss there has been a profit in the operations on bullion. This
is highly creditable to the officers in charge of the different
branches of work in the various institutions, as well as the
workmen engaged in these delicate and responsible operations.
The total amount earned at the different mints and assay
offices was $5,433,102.64, and the total expenditures and
losses of all kin<ls amounted to $1,676,002.73.
Deposits and Purchases of Gold and Silver Bullion during the Year ending June 30, 1884.
lllINTS.
DESCRIPTION.

Philadelphia

San Francisco.

New
Orleans,

Denver.

Carson.

GOLD,

U.S. bullion (domestic
produ ct in11) .. ......... .

United State, coin ..... .
Foreign lmllion ........ .
For<'ig-n coin ............. .

J e welers'

$193,6!i3
89,i04
Gr.,o.;s
15;!64

J3,$J7,966,%'i 3\)1$1,451,819 72 $1,360,G.55 o4 ............ .... ..
97
4,~22 90 ................. . ..................
$13,912 83
29 1,16~,0!G 1, .................. ..................
12,102 85
45 3,.566,641 06 ... ............... ..................
29,564 89

Uars, _old

plate, etc ................ .

639,504 6-5

1S,6i4 16 .. .............. ..

3,435 83

35,343 15

Total.................. lH,0041185 49 $23,319,529 68 Sl,451,819 72 $1,364,091 37 $91,523 72
Re-deposits.
Fine bars................
1,013 28 ..........................................................................
Unparted bars......... 1,661,709 45
98,418 4~ ..................
3,a09 73 ................. .
Total gold ............ $2,666,908 22 $23,417,948 16 $1,451,819 72 $1,367,601 10

$91,523 72

SILVER,

U.S. bullion (domestic

production) ............ $12,034,081 38 $4,849,ii21 13 958,639 90 $19,426 27 $8,063,630
United states coin......
137,339 38
2,163 95
92 51 ..................
10,osa
Fore ign bullion.........
1,2-5 1 27 2,065,000 84 ... ... ...... ...... ........... .......
5:l,607
Foreign coin..............
916,635 GI
25,412 69 .................. ...... ...... ......
956,073
Jewelers' bars, old
plate, etc................
127,632 44
2,646 57 .................. 1..................
82,961

93
93

01
22
16

Total.. ................ $13,216,940 08 $6,944,745 18 958,732 41
$19,426 27 $9,116,358 15
Re-deposits.
Fine bars................
897,767 46
94,169 73 ..................................................... .
Unparted bars.........
21,134 64
1,262 07 •••••••••••000000, ••••••••••••••• ,.,
00 , . , ,

Total silver.......... $14,135,842 18 $7,040,176 98 $958,732 41

,,,,,,,,,,,,

$19,426 27 $9,116,356 25

Gold and silver deposits e.nd purchases .... $14,221,125 57 $10,264,274 BG $2,410,552 13 Sl,3851517 64 $9,207,879 97
Re-deposits.
Gold.. .....................
Silver .............. ,......

1,G62,722 73
91 8,902 1,,

I

98,418 48 .................. ...... 3/i.09.73 ................ ..
9.,,4:JI 80 ................ ..

- - ------

Total gold andsilver lH6,802,750 40 $30,458,125 14 i'l,410/l52 13 $1,387,027 3i jS9,207,879 '¥1
1
1
1

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r1't:rzz

133.

THE. UNITED STATES MINT.

Deposits of Gold of Domestic Production at the Different Mints for theyear ending 1884.
MINTS.

L<lcALITY,

Philadelphia. San Francisco.

Denver.

Carson.

Alabama................................................................................................................... .
Alaska................................ ...... ........ .......
1,50,626 5J .......................................... .
Arizona.............................. .....................
237,:152 50 ......................................... .
Cali1or11ia............................
Sl,105 14
6,565,944 18
$163,392 95 ................... ..

g~t~f~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Georgia..............................
Idaho .................................
Maine.................................

t~~~ ~~

:::::::::·::::::.::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::: .~'.:~·.~.'..~~.

10,727 14
60 00
603,834 36 ......................................... .
45 51 ............................................................... .

:r:ll:~! ::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ...........~~.~.:.~. ::::::::::·:::::.::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::·:::::::::::
Montana.............................
1,158 86
49,873 02 ........................................ ..
Nebraska ............................................................................................................... .
Nevada............................... .....................
591,(!24 30
1,288,426 77 .................... .
New Jllexico........................
101,401 1,4
3,8i4 72 .....................
rn,i07 85
North Carolina...................
56,49.1 77
Oregon...............................
380 32
403,852 9J .................................... .....:
South Carolina....................
2,783 18 ............................................................... ..

:}::~::.".".~.~.:·:: :: :::::::: ::::::: :::::: ...........~'..~ ..~~.. ..............91 "sii· ::::::::::.:::: ::::.: :::::: :::::::::::::::

Utah................................... .....................
21,706 83 .................... . ................... ..
Virginia.............................
2,857 84 ....................... ..................... .. ................. .
Vermont ................................................................................. ................................. .
Washington Territory......... .....................
29,680 13 ........................................ ..
Wyorning ...........................
4,017 77
287 66 ......................................... .
Refined gold........................
9H 70
9,477,966 27 ......................................... .
Other sources......................
5,560 51
30,244 07 .......................................... .
Total gold..................

$193,653 13

$1i,966,265 39

$1,451,819 72

$1,360.655 54

Wastage and Loss on Sale of Sweeps, 1884.
Losses.

Philadel- San Franphiarnint. ciiscomint

Carson
wint.

New
Orleans
wint.

New
York assay office.

Total.

----------1----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

Melterand refiner's gold
$338 30 ............... $1,333 10
wastage ..................... .
Coiner's gold wastage ... .
282 43 $2,238 11
117 :JI
Melter and refiner's silver wastage.............................. 16,360 42 1,833 2i
Coiner'ssilverwastage... 6,092 32
620 04
472 95.
Loss on sale of sweeps...
3,031 13 6,951 39 ...............
Total..................

............... ...............
............... ...............

$1,671 40•
2,6a7 85

$9,13.5 63 ............. .. 27,329 32
l,i77 611 .............. . 8,962 91
............... $5,290 4K 14,2i3 00

$9,744 18 $25,169 9u $3,756 63 $10,913 2·: $5,290 48 $54,874 48

=======-=======
Paid as follows:
From contingent appropriation ..................... .............. . $2,474 74
From parting and refining appropriation .................... . 2,255 91
J,'rom surplus lmllion.... $1,641 u3 16,903 72
From silver profit fund..
8,103 15 3,535 59
Total.................

$828 22 ... ...... ...... .. .............

$3,302 96.

957 gr, . . . ...... ... .. . ...... .•. .. ... . 8,218 77
287 64
$253 46 $5,290 48 24,3i6 33.
1,682 91 10,650 77 ............... 23,981 42

$9,744 Jg $25,169 96 $3,756 63 $10,918 23 $5,290 48 $54,874 48<

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134

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

---------------------- -------------

Statement, by Months, of Fine Gold Bars Exchanged for Gold Coin at the
United States Mint, Philadelphia, and United States Assay Office, Years
ending June 30, 1883, and June 30, 1884.
Month.

Philadelphia.

New York.

Total.

1883.

,July ................................................ ..
August ................................•..•.•..•••....

Septe11lber ........................................ .
October ............................................ ..

Nove1nber .......... ............................... .
December ......................................... .

$30,094
45,lJJ
40,128
50,160
2fl,080
30,IJB8

35
96
53
41
64

14

$192,416
221,211
302,897
2-12,194
l;)0,250
154,774

27
32
07
36
45
51

$222,filO
266,:l63
343,02.5
292,:)54
175,331
184,862

72
95
70
19
4t·Hi/i:J7 55

19,5,4.56
367,794
6,931,670
16,178,127
491,616
151,686

62
28
60
77
09
65

1884.

January ............................................ .
1''ebruary ......................................... .
l\Iarch ............................................... .
April. .......................... .. ........ .. .......... .
May .......................... .... .................... .
June ................................................. .

20,072 13
sn,ox:1 76
79
16
77
07

3;1,126
2ti,077
2.l,078
25,127

$381,269 71

175,!!84
337,710
6,~96,5-13
16,1,,:l,050

126,;');)9 06

$25,419,530 15

13.5
71
49

35
32
13

$25,800, 799 86

Statement showing the Number of Ounces at Standard and Cost of Silver
Bullion Purchased arid Delivered at the Coinage Mints, and the Number
of i,ilver Dollars Coined each Month from July 1, 1883, to June 30, 1884.
Date.

Standard

ounces.

Cost.

Coinage.

1883.

00

2,386,887.31
2,417,322.79
1,752,:JM.32
~.,206,756,77
1,834,!!24.60
2,328,322.97

82,374,541
2,40!,697
1,740,931
2,204,681
1,829,885
2,321,556

49
99
41
42
19
06

$2,425,000
2,340,000
2,350,000
2,350,050
2,350,000
2,354,170

June ................................................. .

2,149,818.66
2,111,607.28
2,100,967.41
1,688,166.04
1,812,815.21
1,568,891.66

2,151,392
2,132,972
2,124,913
1,698,489
1,823,483
1.573,837

61
30
91
95
68
90

2,350,000
2,350,000
2,300,510
2,300,000
2,310,000
2,320,200

Total ............................................ .
Purchased and coined from March 1,
1878, to June 30, 1883 ..................... ..

24,358,835.02

$24,378,383 91

828,099,930 00

128,782,187.25

131,811,676 28

147,255,899 00

Total.. ......................................... .

153,141,022.27

$156,190,060 19

$175,355,829 00

2,029,902.92
2,015,013.45

$2,031,532 00
2,055, I 32 87

12,M1,661
2,807,313 54

July ................................................. ..
August ............................................. .
September ........................................ ..
October .............................................. .
November .......................................... .
December ........................................ ..

00
00
00
00
00

1884.

January ............................................ .
February .......................................... .
March .............................................. ..
April ................................................ .
l\fay .................................................. .

Monthly average July 1, 1883, to June
30, 1884 .......................................... ..

11:onthly average for 76 months ........ ..

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00

00
00
00
00
00

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135

THE UNITED STATES MINT.
- - - - - --------

Statement of Gold and Silver Bullion and Coin on Hand at the United
States Mints and New York Assay Office, Years ending June 30, 1883,
and June 30, 1884.
Institution.

Gol<l
bullion.

I

Gold coin.

Silver
bullion.

ISilver coin. I

Total.

188:l.

Philadelphil\ ......... $26,516,771 84
San Francisco......
97:3,882 ~~a
65G 1 0-t:1 ~)0
Carson ..................
tai,'.W9 21
New Orh.inns ........
New York ............ 27,517,997 :l7
----Total
$.55 Hot 964 G5i
18~-_... -.......

I~--•_-

$1,249,598
3,492,0-15
133,tiS.3
17,991
2,158,2-13

00 $1,381,144 98 $4,699,912 65 $.33,847,427 47
00
800,818 46 30,.~ifi.617 2B 36,142,:j(\3 05
00
61S,~:l9 49 2,D:19,110 G:;
3,4..!fi,~)iH 02
86 1,141,955 47 7,037,470 96
s,:-rn:;,787 50
82
819,018 08
92,907 44 30,588,166 71

·--r .. -

Philarlelphia ......... $25,882,,,33
San Fra11cisco.......
8--11-i,tlO:i
Carson..................
49.1,427
New Orleans........
2:2~ 1 /H4
New York ............ 16,,5:!8,0ll

"-7 051463 68 $4,760,276 48 $.4,745,018 94 $112,:J,,8,723 75

I

02, $1,723,1-58 50 $1,615,341 42 l!S,1,,9,811 9;31 $37,380,84-1 87
os: 3,G.)-t,;}25 00
773,-194 4(i :{a/117,277 87 3t-,i!):;,m12 41
o--1j
311,ur, 00
439 1973 :-n 2,~J'.28,082 12
4,11:1,,Ji7 47
8:):
102,5GO 00 1,819.4.)-1 :.n 11,957,338 8:~ 13,fl0~,147 95
B8i 28,954,;).16 86
80:l/i~2 3[)
11,832 09 46,20li,922 ti8

Total.. ........... $43,982,371 3it34,745,945 3G $4,9,10,685 81 $:>5,474,292 84 $140,253,395 38

The proceedings of the annual assay commission show that the
average fineness of 315 gold coins from the mints of Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Carson melted in mass, was 900 and of
49 single pieces 899.5 The assays made monthly in the assay
laboratory of this office gave an average for 40 pieces of 899.68.
The commission ascertained that the average fineness of 960
silver dollars of all the mints melted in mass was 900.6, and
70 single pieces taken from each month's coinage at each mint,
900.3.
The monthly tests made at the assay laboratory of 597 silver
dollars gave an average fineness of 899.85.
COINAGE OF THE

u. s.

MINTS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 1884.

Gold coinage........................................................................................... $27,932,824 00
Silver coinage-Silver Dollars.................................................................. 28,099,930 00
Halves, Quarters, and Dimes...........................................
673,4--57 80
Minor coinage-Five, Three, and One Cent pieces................................... t,174,i09 73
$57,880,921 53

STATEMENT OF .EARNINGS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE
PHILADELPHIA MINT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 1884.
EARNINGS.

f:'Profits
e~\~i.on~Y~Yi:e:iJn!.;~:~~•~~:::·.
::·.::: ::·.·.::::::::·:.:.:::::·::.::: :::::::::::::::·::::.:::::::::: St 1•l: ~
standard silver dollars coined ..................................................... 1,852,718 66
Profits on subsidiary silver coined.............................................................
Profits on minor coins manufactured...................................... ..................
Profits on sale of medals and pro.of coins..................................................
:Receipts from assays of ores and bullion...................................................
Deposit melting room fluxes and sweeps.................... ..............................
Surplus bullion returned by melter and refiners.......................................
.Proceeds of sale of old material.............................. ..... ...... ........................
,Charges received from Hawaiian Government............................................

92,798 46

982,i85 66
2,502
482
2,052
1,466
86
· 250

17
00
61
65

03
00

Total.. .............................................................................................. 82,947,182 89

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136

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF
EXPENDITURES,

Salaries of officers and clerks ................................................................... .
Wages of workmen and adjusters .............................................................. .
Contiiigent expenses, not including amount paid for wastage and loss on
s,veeps sold ............................................................................................ .
Parting and refining expenses, not including for wastage a:id Joss on
1

Wi!t:e::s ~~ ti;~·~p~·;;,:ti~~··~iii~~~;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
~~;~~~e::f~fl:t~fb\!~'fn~e:fi~e~-~~·f;;~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Expenst>s of distributing minor coins ......................................................... .
Minor coinage metal wasted..................................................................... ..

$40,503 Ht
358,845 70118,980 2610,309
6,713
3,031
29,131
29,102
198

27
05
13
69·
32
22

Tctal...... ...... ...... ......... ... ........................ ...... ...... ... ... ........ .... ...... .... .. $596,864 82·

From the last special report, the production of the several
States · an<l 'l'erritories in 1883 appears to have been as.
follows:
State or Territory.

Gold.

Alaska ................................................................ .
Arizona .............................................................. .
California ......................................... , ................. .
Colorado ............................................................. .
Dakota ............................................................... .

$,300,000
950,000
14,120,000
4,100,000
3,200,000
199,000
1,400,000
1,800.000
2,520,000
280,000
167,000
660,000
56,fi00
140,000
6,000
80,000
4,1100
17,500

¥d~;ht~·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

},fontana ........................................... ~ ................. .

Nevada................... ... ........................................ ..
New l\Icxico.: ......................... ............ ................. .
North (:aro!ina ................ ................................... .
Oregon ......................... ....... .. .... .......................... .
South Carolina ........ .... ..... ...... ............ ................ ..

¥t::i;;i~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Washington ........................................................ .
Wyo1uing ........................................................... .
Other (Alabama, Tennessee, etc.) ........................ ..

Silver.

Total.......................................................... $30,000,000

Total.

$5,200,000
1,460,000
17,370 000
150,000
1,000
2,100,000
6,000,000
5,430,000
2,84.'i,000
3,000
20,000
500
5,620,000

..................
500
..................
..................
$46,200,000

$300,000
6,150,000
15,580,000·
21,4,0,000·
3,350,000
200,000
3,500,000·
7,800,000
7,950,000
3,125,000
170,000
680,000
57,ffO0
5,760,000·
6,000
80,500
4,000
17,500
$76,200,000

This is a decline from the production of the previous year,
in gold of $2,500,000, and in silver of $600,000.
From the 1st of July to the 1st of October, 1884, an increased amount of gold and silver coin and gold and silver
certificates was in circulation, as well as held by the Treasury,.
as shown by the following statement:
Total United States Circulation, October 1, 1884.
In Treasury.

Gold bullion .................................... .
Silver bullion ................................... .

Gold coin ................................... ...... .
Silver dollars .................................... .
Fractional silver coin ............ ........... .
Gold certificates ................................ .
Hil\·er certificates .............................. .
United :-;tut('s notes .......................... .
National bank notes ......................... .
Fractional currency .......................... .

• Total... ..................................... .

$5:!,9-t.fl,:)87
4,!131,404
164,!);")7,45,5
142,ll5H,787
W 474,160
sa,MG,960
26,769,470

In banks and
general circulation.

Total.

3H,frl4/~i2
11,078,!).57
7,105

310,214,484
:J24,7i\0,271
6,970,155

852,916,587
4,934,404
5,57,li88,441
182,:180,829•
74,818,878
120,9:lG,620,
12~,260,721
34r.,n9,,156
83b,8:J9,228
6,977,2':il}

$502,298,757

$1,304,113,567

$1,806,412,324-

""iiii'.i;i;:fo,986...
40,:J22,1142
45,:144,718
87,~89,fi60
9fi,491,251

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137

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

Assuming the amount of paper and specie in the national
banks to have been the same October 1 as on June 22, the
amount held by the public and banks, other than national,
on October 1, 1884, was about $1,094,000,000, or over
$15,000,000 more than on July 1, 1884.
ANNUAL ASSAY.

The commissioners appointed under the provisions of section
3547 Revised Statutes, for the purpose of making the annual
trial of the coins reserved at the several mints, met at Philir
delphia on the 13th of February last. They tested the weight
and fineness of the coins taken from deliveries made by the
coiners to the superintendents in each month of the year.
The committee on weighing reported " that all the coins
weighed are within the limits of exactness required by law,
and that in fact very few vary from the standard by one-half
the tolerance."
CIRCULATION OF SILVER DOLLARS.

The total circulation of silver dollars from the passage of
the act of February 28, 1878, to the commencement, middle,.
and close of the fiscal year 1884, and to the 1st of October,
1884, as appears from the records of the mint, and the amount
held in the Treasury, as reported by the Treasurer, and balancein general circulation for those periods, respectively, are shown
by the following statement:
Comparative Statement of the Coinage, Movement, and Circulation of
Standard Silver Dollars at the end of each Six Months, from July 1>
1883, to July 1, 1884, and for Three Months ending October 1, 1884.
IN THE TREASURY.
PERIOD.

Total coinage.

July 1, 1883.............. $14 7,255,899
January 1, 1884........ 161,425,119
July 1, 1884......•....••. 175,355,829
October 1, 1884 ....•..•. 182,380,829

Held for
Held in expayment of cess of cercertificates
tificates
outstanding. outstanding.
$72,620,686
96,i17,721
96,427,011
96,491,251

$39,293,333
22,731,664
89,t:l:J,91)5
45,567,536

Total.

$111,914,019
119,449,:l85
135,060,916
142,058,787

In circulation.

$35,341,880
41,975,734.

89,794,913
40,322,042:

The foregoing statement shows that from July 1, 1883, to
October 1, 1884, the increase in the total coinage of silver
dollars was $35,124,930; in the amount held by the Treasury,
$30,144,768 ; and on the total circulation outside of the
Treasury, only $4,980,162.

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138

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF
PHIL,\DELPHIA MINT.

The deposits and purchases of gold and silver bullion at this·
mint during the fiscal year 1884, amounted to $16,802,750.40,
being an increase over the previous year of nearly a million
:and a half.
The coinage of gold continued to fall off, being about
i5,000,000 less than in 1883, but the coinage of silver was
$1,500,000 more. The minor coinage executed was about the
same aB in the prior year.
In the melter and refiner's and coiner's departments about
3,000,000 more ounces of silver were treated than in 1883.
PROFITS ON SILVER COINAGE AND THEIR DISPOSITION.

The balance remaining in the coinage mints to the credit of
the silver-profit fund on the 1st of July, 1883, was $1,278,596.59; the profits on the coinage of silver dollars during the
year were $3,966,672.66; and on subsidiary silver coined at
Philadelphia and San Francisco, $102,651.15; making the
total to the credit of the silver-profit fund during the year
$5,347,920.40. Of this amount, $26,667.04 were paid for
wastage and loss on sale of sweeps, properly payable from
silver profits, and $57,824.45 for expenses incurred in distributing the coins, and $3,485,984.21 were deposited in the
~reasury of the United States, leaving the balance in the coinage mints to the credit of this fund on the 30th of June, 1884,
$1,777,444.70. This balance has been deposited in the
Treasury by the several mints.
STATEMENT

SHOWING THE PROFITS ON THE COINAGE OF
SILVER AT THE DIFFERENT MINTS.

1883.

Jul7 1. Balance on hand:
Philadelphia........................................................ 8422,757 94
San Francisco......................................................
451,104 40
Carson.................................................................
80,889 78
New Orleans........................................................
323,844 52
- - - - $1,27~,696 59
Profits on the coinage of silver doJlars:
Philadelphia........................................................ $1,852,718 66
San Francisco......................................................
697,579 80
Carson.................................................................
168,704 51
New Orleans........................................................ 1,247,669 69
3,966,672 66
Profits on the coinage of subsidiary silver:
Philadelphia.......................................................... $92,798 46
San Francisco.......................................................
9,852 69

102,6111 15

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139

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

World's Production of Gold and Silver.
1881.
C,o'D'l(TBIES.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ , __G_o_1_c1.__ , __s_1_1v_e_r_._

1882.

~1

1883.

Silver.

Gold.

Sliver.

United States......... $34,700,000 $43,000,000 $32,000,000 S4G,soo,ooo $30,000,000 $46,200,000
Russia ... ............... 24,371,343
332,198 23,8Gi,9;l.5
32:J,427 2:J,867,935
323,427
Australia............... 30,G!)O,UOO
164,983 28,943,217
IO'l.878 26,500,UOO
80,000
Mexico... ........... ....
858,009 27,675,540
936,223 1 29,2:n,i98
955,6:J9 29,568,5i6
Germany............. ..
2:l'' 610
7,771,304
249,890
8,934,652
303,722
9,589,300
Austria-Hungary...
1,240:,os
1,30:1,280 1,050,UliS
1,95:l,224 1,088,615
2,024,645
Sweden.............. ...
665
48,875
11,298
62,:J5U
24,590
65,800
Norway................. ................
199,987 ...............
244,954 ...... .........
234,645
Italy.. ............. ......
72,375
17,9t9
72,375
17,949
72,375
17,949
Spain.................... .................
3,096,220 ...............
3,096,2'20 ...............
3,096,220
Turkey..................
4,918
71 ,441
6,646
89,916
6,646
89,916
Argent'eRepublic..
78,546
420,225
78,546
420,225
78,546
420,225
Colombia...............
4,000,ooo
1,000,ouo S,856,000
760,ooo 3,856,000
760,000
Bolivia..................
72,375 ll,000,0110
72,375 11,000,000
72,375 16,000,000

Chill.....................

128,869
5,081,747
163,000
5,325,ooo
163,000
5,325,000
741,694 .................
741,694 .................
632,520 ........ .... .... .
466,548
916,400
466,548
916,400
120,080
353,825
1,993,800 ............ ..... 1,993,800 .................
1,993,800 ................ .
Venezuela.............
2,274,6n ................. 2,595,077 ........... ...... 3,3:!8,058 ........ ........ .
Domin'n of Canada
1,094,926
68,205 1,094,926
68,205
954,000
68,205
France .................. .......................... ~. .. .... ................
594,053 ....................... ........ .

Brazil... .................
JAapraicna
fr . ·. ·.·. ·.·.·. ·..··.·.·.·.·.·.·..... ·.

------- ---- ----- ___,- ---- ----1---.-

Total ............ 8103,023,078 8102,168,354 $98,699,588 $109,952,251 $94,027,901 !$114,217,733

Coinage of Various Countries.
188~.

1881.

188S.

CoUlfTRIES.

Gold,

Silver.

Gold.

Silver.

Gold.

Silver.

United States....... 896,850,890 $27,939,203 $65,887,685 $27,972,035 829,241,990 $29,245,989
Mexico................
438,778 24,139,023
452,590 25,146,260
*407,600 •24,083 921
Bolivia................ .................
l,970,9M3 ...............
1,684,865 .............. ... tl,600:000

iYa~w.~·.~.~~-~.~.~'.~.~ :::::::·.:.::::::: ...... ·1so,ooo ::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::: .....~:~.~~:~'.~ .... ~.:'..'.~:~

Great Britain....... .................
4,852,523 ... .. ..........
1,021,381
6,831,169
6,201,517
Australia...... ....... 19,699,115 ................. 18,701,959 ................. 15,903,7U ............... ..
India... ................ ........ ... ...... 20,682,625
170,543 29,336,322
•67,044 24,927,400
Germany....... ......
1,634,189 .............. .. . 3,167,085
6,407,157 21,00~,897
594,464
Austria-Hungary.
2,429,998
9,028,671 2,829,590
3,122,819
2,154,390
5,552, 191
France................
418,231
1,29'J,554
722,206
2'l3,853 ................................. .

~!::~~i.: : : : : :?:~:~~ . . ~.~~:.~ : :~:~:~~:;:'.:~ :::::::~i~.i;:~ : : :: ~~?~:~ :::::::::~i;~i

Norway...... ......... .................
28,930 ...............
69,680
Sweden...............
340,275
290,137
39,876
17,707
Spain.................. 21,067,127
S,08U,193 1,996,310 10,671,842
Portugal..............
245,160 ............ !....
162,000 .................
Japan ..........·........
490,585
4,514,043
803,645
3,294,988

192,708
37,520
436,619
250,468
3,327,235 10,523,421
21i,080 ............. .. ..
964,533
7,584, 188

ti:.z~;;;~:::::::::::
........~'.:.~.~ ....,/ii".iioo ::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::: .........~~:~~.'. .........~~:~~~
Russia................. ................. ................. ............... ................. 12,79:J,575 ................

.

ii~~:::: rtI] I!~[ I·~ ; it;: ;~;~ if~
Total ........ ... $147,015,275 $108,010,0SG i'99,909,662 $109,703,535 $101,265,357 $113,769,901
• Fiscal year.

t Approximate.

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140

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

Table showing the Total Paper and Specie Circulation in each of the
Principal Countries of the World, and the Amount of Specie in Bank
and National Treasuries, and the Amount of Active Circulation.
(Officially Reported in 1884.)

Countries.

Population.

Amount of
Total metallic specie
Active
in naan'!J;.al"'r honal treasu- circulation.
circ t1on. ries and banks

United States ..•........... 50,155,783 $1,745,926,755
Great Britain and Ireland ........................ 35,246,562
876,318,139
Dominion of Canada,
including Manitoba
and Newfoundland ...
59,596,084
4,506,563
British India.............. 252,541,210 1,099,383,126
Ceylon ........................
2,758,166
2,335,300
Australia, Tasmania,
and New Zealand ...
2,798,898
96,010,722
Cape of Good Hope....
780,757
38,078,000
France ........................ 87,321,186 1,990,961,912
Algiers ........................
2,867,626
27,567,000
Guadeloupe .................
185,460
1,627,750
Belgium .....................
5,536,fi.fi4
18G,:J26,515
Switzerland.................
2,846,102
53,180,731
Italy ........................... 28,452,639
533,548,521

i;:r~~::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cuba...........................
Luzon ......•.•...............

Portugal,
including
Azores and Madeira
Germany ....................
Austria-Hungary ........
Sweden and Norway ...
Danish Kingdom .........
Netherlands ...............
Russia ........................
Turkey .......................
Roumania ...............•..
Mexico .......................
Central America .........
Argentine Republic....
Colombia ....................
Brazil.. ........................
Peru ...........................
Venezuela ..................
Chili ...........................
Bolivia........................

~~~ft~:.:::::::::::::::::::::

Japan ..........................
Hawaiian Islands ........

1,979,423
16,625,860
1,394,516
4,450,191

29,143,000
270,812,440
73,043,543
4,198,000

4,550,699
45,234,061
35,839,428
6,479,168
2,091l,400
4,061,580
98,323,000
24,987,000
5,376,000
9,557,279
2,891,~00
2,540,000
3,000,000
11,108,291
3,050,000

46,a67,680
825,473,023
431,646,314
43,058,443
39,228,000
163,847,949
646,431,794
83,315,976
27,372,383
52,018,529
4,701,861
71,371,850
5,091,s:io
139,871,255
14,980,820
2,682,700

2,67.5,245
2,420,500
2,325,000
438,245
5i2,000
36,700,110
66,895

~ tJ'3

... "'2

i'c:·a

8,';34,033,074

$1,211,893,681

$24 16

154,182,691

722,135,448

20 49

9,111,148
78,358,000
1,273,800

50,484,936
1,021,02.5,126
1,061,500

11 22
4 06'.

48,737,837
8,092,000
402,939, 754
5,564,476
564,935
17,991,450
11,609.618
69,:J.57,358
1,800,0:10
27,223,959
14,181,243
3,765,677

47,272,885
29,986,000
1,588,1122,158
22,002,524
1,062.815
168,335,065
41,571,113
464,191,163
27,343,000
243,588,481
58,862,300
432,323

16 90

11,718,874
181,706,674
98,131,401
12,740,975
14,070,000
55,114,112
124,008,153
14,520,000
3,995,298
1,163,ro8

6,908/>33
11,587,000
4,780,000
248,7 44.80;)
1,8:l4,900

28,486,973
808,200

34,648,806
643,766,349
333,514,913
30,317,468
25,158,000
108,733,837
522,423,641
68,795,976
23,377,085
50,285,521
4,701,861
57,175,389
4,897,830
139,871,255
13,098,802
2,682,700
30,157,341
6,464,936
6,986,000
4,780,000
220,257,832
1,026,700

9,991,964,524

1,959,571,764

8,032,392,760

32,.555,341

.s (1)]

a,e;~

.....................
14,196,461
200,000

.....................
1,882,018

.....................
2,398,000
44:J,597
4,601,000

~

38 40
42 55

7 67
5 73

30 40
14 60
16
13
14
42

31
81
65
21

10
7 61

14 28
9
4
12
26

31
68
00
77
5 31
2 75
4 3.5

5 26
1 62

22 51
1 63

12 59
4 29

1 00
12 45
2 78
15
8
6
15

94
35
00
35

WORLD'S COINAGE.

Statements of the coinage in 1883 have been received from
twenty-three countries, which report the coinage of gold and
silver coins valued, at the official estimation, at $101,265,357
in gold and $113,769,901 in silver.
Of the silver coinage nearly one-fourth was executed by the
United States, and two-fifths by Mexico and India. In each
of the latter the silver coinage averaged about two millions of
dollars per month. Next in order are Spain, Brazil, and then

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THE UNITED STATES MINT.

141

Great Britain, which alone issued from the London mint during
the last year over $6,000,000 of silver coin.
In the coinage of gold the United States still stands first,
although it coined a much less amount than in the preceding
year. Germany follows with a coinage of over twenty-one
millions; Australia,.sixteen millions; and Russia over twelve
millions.
In the table of Government and bank issues and metallic
reserves will be found columns showing for each country
respectively, as far as ascertained, the character and amount
of paper money issued in the countries named, and the
amounts of gold and silver held by the treasuries or banks.
Against the Government issue of notes, amounting to
$1,191,158,368, their treasuries held $263,000,000 of gold
and $270,000,000 of silver-a total of $533,000,000; and the
banks, to protect $2,752,498,039 of notes, held of gold and
silver a total of $1,424,000,000, being an aggregate of the
bullion and coin reserves of $1,959,000,000.
From these tables an additional table has been compiled,
giving the per capita and total active circulation of each of the
countries, which shows that after deducting the specie held in
the banks and national treasuries, thirty-nine principal countries of the world had $8,032,392,760 of paper and specie in
active use among the people.
The information obtained as to the circulation of the various
nations of the world shows that the circulation of the paper
and specie of thirty-nine countries aggregates $9,991,964,524,
of which $3,293,608,836 is gold and $2,754,611,080 silver.
This does not include the bronze, copper, nickel, or other
minor token coinage in circulation.
Comparing the aggregate amounts of gold, silver, and paper
circulation with those stated in previous reports, _it will be
found that the statistics show a decrease in gold and gain in
silver and paper.
On the 17th of July, 1884, King Kalakaua approved an
act which had passed the Legislative Assembly of the Hawaiian
Islands, which provides that from and after December 1, 1884,
the gold coins of the United States shall be the standard of
value in that kingdom, and a legal tender at their nominal
value for all debts, public and private; also, that the silver
coins of the United States shall be a legal tender to the extent
of ten dollars. The act further provides that the gold and
silver coins of countries other than the United States and
Hawaii shall be received by the government at their bullion
value only. The act also provides for changing the funds of
the government held in silver into United States gold.

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142

,~

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF
Summary of Specie Imports.
GOLD.

1883.

SILVER.

1884.

----

1884.

Gold bars & bullion ... $3,834,708 $4,997,571 Silver bars d. bullion •.. 82,475,968 82,910,451
Coin-American ........ 8,112,265 8,824,962 Silvercoln-Americ'n
670,192
686,182
Coin-foreign ............ 6,287,176 14,008,784 Silver coin-foreign •.. 7,609,082 10,998,312

---

- - - ----

Total gold imported $17,734,149 $22,831,317

Total silver Imported $10,755,242 $14,594,945

Aggregate Imports-Gold, silver, coin, and bullion,

1882.
1883.
1884.
$42,472,390 828,489,391 $37,426,262;

Comparative Statement, Imports of Fiscal Years 1882 to 1884.
1883.

1884.

Total value of merchandise imported .............. $724,639,574
Total value of coin and bullion imported........
42,472,390

8723,180,914
28,489,391

S667 ,697 ,693
87,426,262

1882.

Aggregate import&-merchandise and specie .. $767,111,964

$751,670,305

$705,123,955

llerchandlse brought in American vessels ....... $130,266,826
llerchandise brought in foreign vessels....•.•.... 571,517,802
Brought In cars and other land vehicles••...•....
22,854,946

1136,002,290
564,175,576
23,003,048

8135,046,207
512,511,192
20,140,~

$724,639,574

8723,180,914

9667,697,693

I

Estimate of the Aggregate Production of the Precious Metals in all Countries from 1493 to 1875.
SILVER.

GOLD,

TOTA.L.

Kilograms. Kilograms.

Dollars.

Dollars.

Dollars.

7,904,910 ................
460,650
7,770,135
7,382,000 . ................
J,0~3,655
2,428,940
................... 731,GOO
265,040
76,205,400
1,214,500
163,550
31,222,lOO ·
294,000
37,717,600
263,600
11,609,000
................... 1,037,050
2,026,100
5,271,500
1,812,000
151,600
2,000,000

269,731,339
264,961,603
251,888,604
82,880,291

SILVER.

GOLD.

CotnlTRIES.

German~········ ......
Austria- ungary ...
Rest of Europe ......
l{ussia .... ...............

Afr.lea ....................
Mexico ..................
New Granada.........
Peru ......................
Potosi (Bolivia) .....
Chili ................... ,.
Brazil ....................
United States .........
Austria ..................
Various countries•..

···················

!...................

Total ............... 180,511,48.5

9,453,345

507,749,653
3,59,325,340
130,174,396
596,501,675
80,327,582
144,398,100
129,467,140
509,347,107
99.5,126,015
889,963,800
74,458,340

269,731,:131>
491,209,860
251,888,604
590,629,944
359,325,~
2,730,455,0SG596,501,675
1,145,684,6661,431,398,047
218,491,438
509,347,107
1,175,000,138
889 ,968,80(),
142,702,340

6,159,241,9481 4,643,087,395

10,802,329,343

......................
2,600,280,659

1,065,357,084
1,286,999,947
89,024,298
179,874,123
68,244,000

226,248,247

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143

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

Highest and lowest prices of Gold in New York
Each month in 1862-1878.
1862,

llonth.

1863.

H.
L.
ll.
January .......
1603,4
101~
February....
1021 8 172~
March ......... 1021/.
April. ..........
May ............
1028 154a
.June........... 1008 103:lj 148'l 8
July ............ 12oij 108~ 145
August ........ 1161 " 112~ 129"6
September .. 124
116 • 143li
October·-···· 133,½ 122 153a,_
November.•. 13al4 129 154
December•... 134
128½1152",4

:~~

mH m~ m~

Year..... 134

Month.

I

L.
H.
January ..... 142¼ 133¼
February .... 144
139~
March .........
mi~
ru:ril •.........
1:!7~
ay ............ 140},' 139~
June•.......... 1418 130:lj
July ........... 145¼ 143t,
August ....... 150
143½
September... 145~ 141¾
October ...... 140 • 133¾
November... 137
132
December ... 136¾ 134¾

::w.

132

Month.

186,.

1864.

H.

L.

13.'l"/411,593/s
152½ 1161
139 '1'69"/4
145~ 184~
14:jl. 190
140½1250
123¼ 285

:~~

gg}J~!~

1869.

1870.

Year..........•..•......•... 114% 109

:~i~
:~~

L.

1871.

1363/4
135~
1241/s
125~
125 1 a
137½
147
146,½
1431'.3
145½
137½
131~

:~w. lim
H.

L.

::1

1351

r~
13
135
1363/a
138
1421'.'. 139'.1/a
146§ 141
145';
140¼
138½
137f'. 133
138

ij

8

::~

14lij

H.

1872.

L.
H.
110g 110½
111
110"/4
110¼ 113~
111 114"•
111~ 114~
111 11514
111ij

1873.

L.

111¼
110'!
1128
uog
mi,.

11936
115~

108~
109 1
109g
111fi
111"
109§
112½
112§
113
110 8 1131
111):,i 113g
113½
114¾ 11sij
11~
ll2¼ 115 3
11
111¼ 115
1111 115~ 112¼
110 1J23~ 11 ~ 114
111¾
1103/4 110 '< 108¾ 1133'° 111%

113'§

llill mtf

110

f'J

H.
114¼
115~
1
ll8

1876.

1877.

1129. 10s:i:
106¼

1878.

H.
L.
L.
H.
L.
H.
113~ 112¾ 107}§ 105~ 102~
Ill~
3
lJ:l•c, 114
ll4%
114
115
116¾
111-¼
112~
113¾
114a
ll4 8
112%

8

115
113~
1J3l'j,
113
112%
112~
110·'•
113~
1101•
109

1171/a 111¾ 115

112¾ 1061/s
113~ 105:j'.2
112 1.1107~
112~1107¾
111~,106~
1113 1106s3.
109~1105 •
109 1 1104
108~! 103¾

rnsYsl

107
107

103ij

110:J

8

104 8
104~
104~
106 1 4
104¾
10,5~
103ij
102~
102 1 •
102½
102½

L.

m~

11!§
116'
11i3
11 % 11 ~
115
118~
116
115
116
114~
1168 110
107~
111§
110
1061

115% 108¾ 115% 108½ 119

1875.

H.
L.
H.
.January......................... 1121/s 110¾ 113¾
February ....................... 113
111¾ 115%
Karch............................ 113½ 111¼ 117
114¾ 111:l-$ 115~
113½ 111! 8 116-\~
June .............................. 112~ 110½1117½
July .............................. 1101/s 109 lli}4
August .......................... 110~ 109¼ 114¾
September•........•..•......... 110 1 4 109'~ 117¾
October ......................... 11(}¾ 109¾ 117~
November...................... 112~ 110 116·'•
December ...................... 1123 a 110½ 115¾

ru:1'·······----··················

L.

H.

197¼ 14w.
196~ 14 8
148½
143½
12s9. 141g
135~
138½
14065 152~
142Mi 147~
144(3 154~
14-5½ 148~
144½ 141""

1867.

151½ 234¾ 128,½ 167¾ 1251/s 146"/s 132¼

H.
H.
L.
136% 134~ 123¼
1301/si12rfi
136~
132
1303,6,11' s
13l¾i115~
13i
144
1349-1115~
1a,s 136 1 ll4 3
134½1122~
137~
1
136
131~ 122
!62~ 129",41116¾
132
]28~1113~
128% 121~ 113¾
124
119½1111~
162,½ 119,½ 123¾

1874.

1866.

I

L.

H.

151~ 234¾
157 8 216~
159 WI
166¼
168
193 147~
222 146 1
231,½ 145~
191 145
14 ~ 1227~ 189 149
210 148S'.
143 1260
212",4 148 2
148½
243

101¾ 172,½ 122¼ 285

1868.

Year.._. .. 150

L.

I

102 8
!Ol
lOlij
1011"
101
1003/4
100¾
100~
100'! R

L.

m~
1
100~8
1003,/4

~:j

100~
100
100~
1
IOU~ 100 8
1001 • 100

1071/s 102½ 102¼ 100

NOTE.-Specie payment 1·esuwed January l, 1879, after a suspension of nearly 18 years

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Latest Official Estimate of Values of Foreign Coins in United States Money.
CoUNTRY,

Argentine Republic ................ .. Peso .. .............................. .
Austria .................................... . Florin .. ... ......................... .
Franc .. ............................. .
Bolivia no ......................... .
Braz il ...................... ... ... .......... . lllilreis of 1000 reis ........... .
British Possessions in N. A .. .... . . Dollar .... .. ........ ................. .
Chili... .. ................... ... .... ......... . Peso .. ............. ... ............... .
Cuba .... ................ .. .. ....... .... .. .. .. Peso .. . .. ....... .. ...... ............ .
De nn1 ark ...... .... ... .. ...... ..... .. ..... . Crown .................... .. .... .. ..
Ecuador.... ... ..... .!... .............. ..... . Peso .. ........ ................. ... .. .
Egy pt ......... ... .. . .... ... ............. ... . .P iaster ...... , ........•.... .... ......
France....... .. ............................ . F ranc... ....... .... ..... ....... ... .. .
German Empire .. .. .. ... .. ............ . Jlfarc ........ ...................... .. .
Great Britain ......... ... ... ... ... ...... . Pound sterling .. .. ....... ... ... .
Greece ..... ......... ......... .. ............. . Drachm~ ................ .... ...... .
Hayti.. .... ........ ............ .... .. .... .. . fi ourde ..... ........ ...... .: ........ .
I ndia. ............ ......... ......... ........ . J:.u pee of 16 anuas ....... .... ..
Italy .................... ........ .... .. .... . . Lira .. ..... .......... .............. .. .
J apa n .................. ..... .. .. ... ....... .. Yen .............. .. .................. .
Liberia .............................. ....... . Dollar......... ..................... .
Me xico............................ ... ... ... . Dollar .... ........................... .
N eth erlands ...................... .. .. ... . Flori n ...... ........................ .
Norway .................................... . Crown ............................. .
P eru ....................... ... .............. . Sol... .. ......... ...................... .
Portugal.. ................. ........ ....... . Milreis of 1000 reis ........... .
Ru~sia ..................... ...... .... ... .... . Rou ble of 100 copecks ....... .
Spain .. .................... ... ....... ... ... .. Peseta of 100 centimes...... .
Sweden ..................... ... ... .. ... ... . Crown .. .... ....................... .
Switzerland .... ........ .. .... ..... ...... . Fra nc... ... ........ .... ..... ... ..... .
Tripoli.. .. .... .. ..... ... ....... .... ........ . Mahlmb of 20 piasters...... .
P laster............... ....... ... .... . .
Peso .................... ......... .. ..
Venezuela.. ..... .. .. ... . ... ... ........... . Bolivar.... .... .... .... .. .. .-.. . ..... .

:~lf~:~~::::::::::::·.·.::::::::::::::::::::::

0
<i,'

,,.

;.
(D

Q.

~

0
0

~...(v

Monetary Unit.

i~i;~e'lsi~~·;;,·c;;i~;;;iii~:::::::::

Standard.
Gold and •!Iver ... ... . ..
Silver .. .. ......... ..........
Gold and silver........ .
Silver.. ........... ........ . .
Gold ............ .. ........ .
Gold ..... .... .. .. ..... ... . ..
Gold and silver ... ..... .
Gold and silver .. ..... ..
Gold ....... ...... .......... .
Si lve r ...... ..... ... .. .... .. .
Gold .................. .. .. . .
Gold and silver .. ..... ..
Gold
Gold ..... ............ .. ... ..
Gold and silver ........ .
Gold a nd silver ... ..... .
Silver ...................... .
Gold am\ silver ..... .. ..
Silver .... .. .... ... ... ...... .
Gold ...... ..... .......... ..
Silver .. .. .. .. .. ............ .
Gold and silver ........ .
Gold ......... .. ............ .
Silver... .... ....... .. .... ...
Gold ... ....... ............. .
Silrnr .. ... .... ..... .. ..... ..
Gold and silver ... ..... .
Gold ... ... .. .. ............ ..
Gold and sil ver ........ .
Sil ver................ ...... .
Gold ...... .... .. .. .. .. ..... .
Silver.. .................... .
Gold and •liver ........ .

Value In
U.B.Money

$1

4

1

l

96./;
39.3
19.3
79.5
54.6
00
91.2
93.2
26.8
79.5
04.9
19.3
23.8
86.6½
19.3
96.5
37.8
19.3
85.8
00
86.4
40.2
26.8
79.5
08
63.6
19.3
26.8
19.3
71.7
04.4
,9.5
19.a

1-1

~

·~
Standard Coin.

Jt,,

n, i, ½,

and 1 peso, ½ argentine and argentine.

5, 10, and 20 francs.

Boliviano.

Condor, doubloon, and escudo.

....t"'

Peso.

e

t~• ~/fa ~o!-':i~.l doubloon.

5, 111, 25, 50, a nd 100 plMten.
5, 10, and 20 fra ncs.
5, 10, and 20 marks.
½ sovereig n and sovereign .
5, 10, 20, 50, a nd 100 drachmll8.
1, 2, 5, and 10 gourdes.
5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 lire.
1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 yen, gold and silver yen.

Peso or dollar, 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavo.
10 and 20 crowns.
Sol.
:?, 5 and 10 milre is.
¾,
a nd 1 rouble.
5, JU, 20, 50, and JOO peoetaa.
10 and 20 crowns.
5, 10, and 20 francs.

½,

25, 50, 100, 250, 500 plasters.

Peso.

5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 bolivar.

t"'

00

t-l

::,,

>
t-l
t<l

e,

=
....
~

0

:,::

~

..,
0

145

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON,

D. C.,

JANUARY

1, 1885.

The foregoing estimation, made by the Director of the Mint,
of the value of the foreign coins above mentioned, I hereby
proclaim to be the values of such coins expressed in the money
of account of the United States, and to be taken in estimating
the values of all foreign merchandise, made out in any of said
currencies, imported on or after January 1, 1885.
H. McCULLOCH,
Secretary of the Treasury
In the estimation of the values proclaimed by the Secretary
of the Treasury on the 1st of January, 1884, no changes were
made in the values of foreign gold coins. The pricE' of silver
bullion having declined, a corresponding reduction was made
in the value of the coins of those countries where silver coins
are the standard of value, and whose currency is upon a silver
basis.
For the reason stated, the value of the Austrian florin was
reduced in the circular of January 1, 1884, from 40.1 to 39.8
cents; the boliviano of Bolivia, from 81.2 to 8-0.6 cents; the
peso of Ecuador and United States of Colombia, and the sol
of Peru, from 81.2 to 80.6 cents; the rupee of India, from
38.6 to 38.3 cents; the yen of Japan, from 87 .6 to 86.9 cent.s;
the dollar of Mexico, from 88.2 to 87.5 cents; the rouble of
Russia,, from 65 to 64.5 cents; and the mahbub of Tripoli,
from 73.3 to 72.7 cents.

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146

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OP

Distribution of the Currency of the United States.
Nov. t, 1881. Nov. 1, 1882. Nov. 1, 1883. Nov. 1,18M.

GOLD.
Treasu:J' bless certil!cates ..•.....•...•..... 1167,781,909 8148,435,473 $157,353,760 $134,670,790
97,570,057 117,185,407
Nationa anks, Including certil!cates 107,222,169 94127,324
17,892,500
18,255,300
25,926,757
State banks, Including certificates...... 19,901,491
Total gold................................ $294,905,569 $260,455,29'7 $273,179,117 S2i7,784,954
SILVER.

Treasury, standard sll ver dollars....... 866,576,378

Treasury, bullion ..............................
TreasuJ\,fractional coin ..•••...••........
Nation
anks .................................

3,424,575
25,984,687
7,112,567

$92,414,977 $116,036,450 $142,926,725
4,646,497
4,012,503
4,936,365
26,749,482
29,346,757
26,712,424
8,234,739
8,092,557
10,247,926

Total silver·-······•--·--·············-- $103,098,207 $131,411,701 $157,933,165 Sl85,0l2,ll36
PAPER CURRENCY.
Treaaurr bless certificates .................. S22,774,830
Nation:i anks, including certlllcates 77,630,917
State banks, including certificates..... 27,391,317
Savings banks........................•...••..... 11,782,243

$26,224,248
92,549,767
27,086,482
14,724,978

830,996,217
103,316,809
28,259,069
12,998,594

$26,258,827
114,507,113
32,659,605
14,079,452

Total currency ........................ $139,579,307 $160,580,475 St 75,570,682 $187,504,997
Grand totals............................ $537,583,083 8552,447,473 $606,682,964 $650,302,487

IC the amounts of gold and silver coin and of currency in the Treasury and the banks
be deducted from the aggregate amount in the country, the remainder will be, approximately, the amounts in the hands of the people, as follows:

I

CuRRENT
MONEY. Nov. 1, 1884. Nov. 1, 1879. Nov. 1, 1880. Nov. 1, 1881. Nov. 1, 1882. Nov. 1, 1883..
Gold ........... $307,826,918 Sl49,415,016 $200,250,181 $267,663,402 $306,650,159 $308,791,137
80,912,634
84,768,767
Silver•......... 90,722,903
67,228,7!4
73,848,285
82,939,158
Paper cur'y 492,735,832 502,168,488 542,951,898 $567,445,959 548,828,288 523,124,121
Totals ...... $891,285,653 S718,812,218 $817,050,364 $918,048,519 $936,391,081 $916,684,025

Aggregate Issues of Paper Money in War Times.
The following table exhibits the amount per capita issued of the Continental money
the French o.saignau, the Confederate currency, and the legal-tender greenbacks and
National bank notes of the United States.

I

Amount issued.

Population.

Amount
per head.

Continental money.. 3,000,000 in 1780................................. $359,546,825.....•..
French assignau...... 26,500,000 (France in 1790).................. 9,115,600,000..•••.••
Confederate curr'cy 9,103,332 (11 Confederate States, 1860) 654,465,963 ....••.•.
Greenbacks and national bank notes .. 31,443,321 (United States in 1860).........

c1:!:1~!~i~tn~~:::i~.
$750,820,228....... .

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$119 84
343 98
71 89
23 87.

1-17

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

Medals and Proof Sets Sold during the Fisca.l Year ended June 30, 1884.
Description.

Number.
sold.

I
---------1-----

Value.

--------1---HEDAL'I.

f

Description.

I

PROOF SETS.

Number
sold.

Value.

Gold..........................
130 S,\645 IO Gold..........................
36 SI,1148 00
Silver.........................
598
1,153 91 Silver........................
925
3,011 40
Bronze ....................... ~~ 1Mlnor........................ ~ ~
Total..................

3,992

Total .................... 1

87,360 76

4,118 $5,049 72

CoinBge and Medal Dies Manufactured at the Mint at Philadelphia during
the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1884.
For Phil&- For San
For
delphia. Francisco. Carson.

Denomination.

For New
Orlean1.

Total.

------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---For

Ji~t,'
;,°~':.~,:.'........................................
.
Eai(le......................................
5
Ha1f eagle.. ...........................
Three dollar...........................
Quarter eagle..........................
Dollar....................................

12

Total ............................... .

33

2
2

40
20
IO

llO
SIS
81
2
2
12

10
10
9

12

-------------1·---- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 29

70

132

=========!=======
For silver coinage:
Dollar ................................... .
Half dollar............................ ..
Quarter dollar ...................... ..
Dime ..................................... .

128
2

2
86

20

80

60

..............................
·····•·········
IO ............................ ..

288
2
2

96

-------------1---- ---- -------- ---Total.. ........................... ..

218

90

20

60

388

=========·!=======
For minor coinage: ...................... .

Five cent ............................... .
Three cent ............................. .
One cent............................... ..

678
5

5

275

275

Total ............................... .

958

958

678

-------------1---- ---- ---- --------

Total Number of Dies.
Gold coinage........................................................................................................... 132
Sliver coinage ......................................................................................................... 388
Minor coinage ........................................................................................................ 958

~:tor~~';~~.t:~-~i~~::::::::::::::::::::·.-.-.:::::::::::::::::::::::::·..::::::::·.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~

i~~tr11;:;'.~~,:~:tt-.~:. . t~;.~.~-~._: ._: .: : ::: : : : : : : : ::: : : :::: : : .: : : : : : : : : : : : : : t
1,520-

Medals Made at the Mint during the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1884.
Gold .......................................................................... ,..........................................
97
Silver................................................................................................................... 524
Bronze ........................................... .. ...... .. .. .. .........................................................10,777'

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•

,i
•

....

Specie Circulation.

~

00
POPULATION.
COUNTRIES.

United States ..................................•..............•..•
Great Britain and Ireland ................................. .
Dominion of Canada, including Manitoba and
Newfoundland ............................................... .
British India ................................................•...•
Ceylon .............................................................. .
Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand ............... .
Cape of Good Hope ............................................ ,
France ............................................................. .
Algiers ........................... ................................... .

i~\;f ~~~~l-~-~: :::::: ::::::::::::·•• ••·• •·.. ···• •,.. ,...... ,........ .
Switzerlanu ..................................................... .
Italy ....................... . ......................................... .
0

<O.

"'N.
(D

Q.

~

0
0

a.......

g;:1~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·
[~~~~::::.·:::::::::::::::::::'
.::::.-:::::::.·.-:::::::::::::::::::::::::
Portugal, including Azores and Madeira ............ .
Germany ........................................................... .

i &~f~~~i.~.~~)!:!)!!;;;;;;;:;;:;;:;;:;;:;;;;;;:;::;

Year.I

Latest.

1880
1881

50,155,783
35,246,562

1881
1881
1881
1881
1880
18&1
J8i7
1878
1881
1~8U
1881
1882
1s;7
1sn
1880
18;8
1881)
1880
1881)
1880

4/iOG,563

1880
Russia .............................................................. . 188:JI

Turkey ............................................................. . 1880
Roumania ........................................................ . 1881

2:i2,5-l 1,2 J0

2,,m,,1ut:>

2,798,898
780,7ii7
37,H72,048
2,8(i7,626
18.5,41i0
5,585,846
2,846,102
28 1452 1639
1 979 1423

t6'G·>5 860

1;a9-1;516

4,t;)0,191

4/i;)0,6!J9

45,:!:~\061
35,8:l!l,--128
6,479,l(i8
2,096,400
4,1;2,921
98,:J23,000
24,987,000
5,376,000

PER

SPECIE.

CAPITA.

whPctt~i~~~la-1-----------------------, - - tion is stated.
Silver, full J Silver, llmI Specie.
Total.
Gold.
legal tender. ited tender.
5872,500,000
678,500,1!00

819 39
19 25

13,826,000
June 30, 1884
t9,326,ooo
t4,5oo,ooo
1,037,0l~l,OUO
Dec. 31, 188:l
771,000
Dec. 31, 1883 ... ... ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: p,o37t~7~;:: ::::::::::::::::::::::
70,000,000
tC,5,000,000 ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
5,000,000
Dec. 31, 188:l
:J2,441 ,(JOO
tao,ooo,uuo ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Dec. 31, 188:l
2,441,'JOO
1,442,900,000
Sept. 18, 1884
*848,UOO,OOIJ
*537,000,000
57,900,000
15,21.~,,ooo
Dec. 31, 188:l
t9,300,0QO
t ,,915,000
GG2,000
Dec. 31, 1883
il81,UOO
281,UOO
12a,.;oo,ooo
G,:mo,ooo
Sept. 11, 188-1
*64,0oo,ooo
•5:1,uoo,1100
4,700,000
31,700,(H)()
Sept. 6, 1881
•11,000,000
•10,oou,ouu
212,0IJU,UOO
j34,000 ,uuo
June 30, 1>!84
j140,0UO,OUO
~18,IJUU,IJ00
5,404,0UO
Dec. 31, 1883
t2,iU2,000
t2, 702,001)
200,()110,000
30,000,000
Aug. :JO, 1884
l:lO,UOU,000
40,UUIJ,OUO
28,181,000
Dec. 31, 1883
t28,18l,OOO .................... .
2,u9.-;,ooo
Dec 31 1883
t762,UOU
t2,2:J6,000 .................... .
40,000,000
Dec: 31; 188:l
tao,000,000 ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
10,000,000
54;),!)00,000
Dec. 81, 1883
•3:34,420,000
109,480,000
•102,000,000
120,000.ooc
Sept. 15, 1884
*4;\000,000
*75.000,000 .....•................
19,43.">,t:Jl
Dec. 31, 188:l
14,296,78:J ... ....... .. •. . .••...
5, 138,:368
1s,x9t,noo
Dec. 31, 1883
1a,Ha6,ooo ······-···· .........
4,958,000
85.000,000
*28,000,000
Sept. 13, 1884
*57,000,000 .................... ..
124,008,153
Aug. 13, 1884
1124,008,153 .......................................... .
74,~00,000
Dec. 31, 1883
39,G00,000
3.5,200,000 1· .................... .
ll,550,000
Dec. 31, 1883
tll,387,000 .................... ..
t163,000

3 07

Oct, 1, 1883
July 26, 1884

fQI0,500,000
•583,500,000

5187,000,000

$75,000,000
95,000,000

I···..................

!

Estimate in last report.
Estimate of last year, adding coinage and deducting consumption.

28
25 Ul
41 54
38 30
5

......................

(i)

* Estimate of last year, with net imports added, deducting consumption.

4 10

l "Wahrung's Po\itik," 1884, by Ottomar Haupt.

I Bank reserve only.

:m

2:l 52
H 81
7 14

2 45

j

12 73
22 03
07
67
8 79
12 06
3 3.;

a oo

9
20
I
3
2

00
3i
2G
OU
15

....t<
t<

q

..,
>
..,::c

00

t,:

1::1

::i:

..,cil
0

::c
><
0

>,j

Specie Circulation-( Continued).

COUNTRIES.

Mexico ............................................. , ............... .
Central Ainerica ........................... .. ... . ... , .. ........ .
Argentine Republic .......................................... .
Colombia.•.........................................................
Brazil ............................................................... .
Peru ................................................................. .
Veuezuela ........................................................ .
Chili.. ......................................... ~······················
Bolivia ............................................................... .
Uruguay ........................................................... .
Hayti ........................................................ ........ .

fif:~a:;.·i~i'a;;;i;.·.:::::::::: :::·:::::::::::::::::: ::: ::: ::: ::: :::

I

POPULATION.
Year. I

Latest.

1880
1881
1881
1881
1882
1876

9,787,629
:l,000,000
11,831,326
a,0.,0,000

]>l8]

2,075/!45

1876
]876
]880
]8i7
1883
1882

2,4~0,,500
2,325,000
438,:!45
572,0UO
36,700,110
66,895

2,891,600
2,540,')00

PER

I

SPECIE.
CAPITA.
whfch!~i~~~la-1-----~------------,-----tion is stated.
Silver, UmSliver, full
Gold,
Total.
Specie.
legal tender. ited tender.
June
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
lJec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.

Total... ..................................................... , ......... , .................. , ........ .

I

30,
31,
31,
31,
31,
31,
31,
31,
31,
31,
31,
31,
31,

1883
1883
1883
1883
1883
1883
1883
1883
18S:l
1883
1883
1883
1883

e$10,000,000
11140,000,000 ···········"·········
$50,000,000
$5 23
t2,318,000
t374,0IJO ••.••................•
2,692,000
93
*10,000,000
t9,000,000
tl,720,000
20,720,000
8 15
... ... ... ... ...•.. ... .••...•.•.•..........
$4,000,000
4,0v0.000
l 33
......................••••...........•............•..........•......•..•.•.........•••.....••..•••
t62,000
tl,820,00U ...................•..
1,882,000
62
t2,ooo,ooo ............ .........
p2:i,ooo
2,12a,ooo
1 02
.....................
tG,000,000 ........•.....••••••.•
6,0.,0,000
2 47
... ... ... ... ... ..• ...
t5,400,000 ...........•....•••...
5,400,000
2 32
t4,601,ooo
t1,ooo,ooo .........••........•••
5,601,000
2 28
t4,ooo,ooo
t1so,ooo •.............•.......
4,780,000
8 36
92,000,000
44,333,ill •·••••••·······•······
136,33~,712
3 71
54U,900 ...............•.....
950,000
1,499,UOO
22 41

····I $3,293,606,836

I $2,310,680,712 I

$443,930,368 I$6,048,217,916

0

<O.

"'N.
(D

Q.

~

• New coinage, $6,000,000; foreign gold estimated, $4,000,000,
t !f.stima~ i1> /ast report.

t Estimated from total specie circnlation reported by United States minister.
i! Bank reserve only

,

..;i

=
t,j

q

z

~

t,;t

t,
u,

..;i

,..,>
t,j

u,

:s:H
z

~

0
0

a.......
(i)

~

~..,

,j;;o.

150

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OJ!'

U. S. Mint Test for Gold and Silver.
The following is a test for determining whether coin is good or bad. Use the liquid&
as near the edge of suspected coin as possible, as that is the part most worn. A drop of
the preparation will have no effect on genuine coin, while it can be plainly seen on the
counterfeit, Coins should be scraped slightly before using:
TEST FOR GOLD,

TEST FOR SILVER.

Strong Nitric Acid (36°), 39 part&
Muriatic Acid, 1 part.
Water, 20 parts.

24 grains Nile of Silver,
30 drops Nitric Acid.
1 ounce Water.

The above tests shot:ld be taken In conjunction with I>latMUr, Thicknes,, and W.iglal
the tests used at the Mint.

SUMMARY.
Terma 'USed in treating of Bullion, Mints, Coinage, and Money.
AssAYING.-Chemical analy~is of metals or ores. This term is employed in reference to mints and coinage, refers particularly to the process
for determining the component parts and relative proportions of a mixed
alloy of gold and silver, or the various alloys used for the manufacture of
minor coins.
REFINING.-Extract of base from precious metals; usually performed
by the aid of heat and oxidizin~ fluxes.
PARTING.-The separation of gold and silver when the two metals compose an alloy, either native or artificial, for the purpose of obtaining the
metals, respectively, in the form of fine bars. This is accomJ?lishtd, first, by
dissolving the silver with acids and subsequently precipitatmg; or,second,
by converting silver into chloride by heat and chlorine ga;,, and then
reducing the chloride to a metallic state.
ALLOYING.-Compounding two or more metals together in suitable or
legal proportions for coinage. Gold and silver are alloyed with copper for
standard coins, and alloys are variously made of nickel and copper, or of
copper, tin, and zinc for minor coins.
FINE BARS.-Gold and silver bars resulting from the operations of parting and refining. Bars containing 99 per cent. of pure metal are generally
·
considered as fine bars.
UNPARTED BuLLION.-Gold containing silver or silver containing gold
which has not been subjected to the parting operation.
·
AMALGAM,-Gold and silver extracted from ores or other substances by
the use of mercury and left in a porous or spongy condition, when the
mercury is removed by distillation.
•
·
FINENESS.-A term indicating the proportion of pure metal contained
in a piece of gold or silver. Fineness is expressed in thousandths; that
is, pure metal is 1000. United States coin is /o"lli fine, or decimally .900
fine. Fineness is estimated by jewelers and workers in the precious metals
by "carats," pure metal being 24 carats. Thus 22 carats, the British
standard for gold coins, is H, or decimally, 916i fine.
DEPOSIT-MELTING.-The operation of melting I\ deposit of gold or
silver at the Mint to secure a homogeneity of metal8, preliminary to taking
a sample for assaying.
REMEDY OF THE MINT.-The legal variation allowed from the fineness
and weight prescribed by law for the coins.
TRIAL OF THE PYx.-The annual test made by special commissioners
of the fineness and weight of coins reserved from each delivery of coin by
the coiner to the superintendent. These coins are known as Pyx coins,
because kept in a pyx or chest.

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l51

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

REFRACTORY BuLLION.-Gold or silver bullion which contains a small
percentage of lead, tin, or antimony, and which is therefore too hard or
brittle to roll, cut, or stamp with facility.
WASTAGE.-The amount of gold and silver lost in the processes which
these metals undergo/reparatory to striking the coins. This ''wastage"
by law must not excee a certain percentage of the gross amount of metal!.
worked.
SwEEPINGS.-The ashes, fluxes, crucibles, sweepings, and all other refuse
materials from rooms in which the metals are worked, containing a small
amount of gold and silver.
STANDARD.-The weight and fineness fixed by law for the coins; hence
the term "stnndard weight" or "standard finenefs."
.BASE BuLLION.-Gold or silver oullion not fit for coinage purposes, by
reason of the presence of base metals, until refined.
MINT MARK.-The letter or mark on the coin, designating the mint at
which it was struck; as "S" for San Francisco, "C C" for Carson City,
"0" for New Orleans.*
MONEY OF AccouNT.-The ideal unit, or money term, in which accounts
are stated or transactions made, as the pound sterling of Great Britain, the
dollar of the United States, the franc of France, and the reichsmark of the
German Empire.
CoINS OF STANDARD V ALUE.-In modem times a government first
est:iblishes a money of account or ideal unit, and then fixes by law the
quantity of gold or silver which shall, in the form of a coin with unlimited
legal-tender power, represent that ideal unit. Such coins, with their multiples and divisions, are termed "coins of standard value" or "standard
coins."
·
SUBSIDIARY Corns.--In the United States silver coins of less denomination than the dollar, which have a nominal value exceeding their intrinsic
or bullion value, and limited as legal tender to sums not exceeding five
dollars.
MINOR CoINS.-Coins of small denominations used for change, and
struck from other metals than gold or silver.
MINT PRICES OF GOLD AND SILVER (COINING VALUE).-The rate per
standard ounce at which the mint converts bullion into legal-tender coins.
'fhe coining rate of an ounce of standard gold bullion, i. e., bullion T"TPiP-cr
fine in the United States is $18.604
The coining rate of the ~ilver
dollar of 412½ grains, discontinued by law April 1, 1873, was $1.161\ per
standard ounce.
THE BASIS OF THE MONEY SYSTEM of all civilized nations is gold or
silver, or both, in a ratio fixed by law. The relative valuation of the two
metals in the coins of nations using the double standard, is about one of
gold to fifteen and a half of Bilver.

+.

Partial List of Medals in Copper-Bronzed, also, in Gold and
Silver, which may be obtained at the Mint.
ARMY.
Size.
Washington before Boston .......................................... ;.. 42
Colonel William Washington, for Cowpens....................... 28
Major-General Harrison, foi: the Thames ... _....................... 40
Ma~or-General Sco.tt, for Chippewa .and Niagara............... 40
MaJor-G~neral Game~, for Fort Erie............................... 40
Major-General Porter, for Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie..... 40
Major-General Macomb, Battle of Plattsburgh.................. 40
Major-General Jackson, Battle of New Orl_eans......... ..... . ... 40
Major-General Taylor, Palo Alto.................................... 40
• The coins struck at the parent mint in Philadelphia bear no mint mark.

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Price.

$2 50

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50

152

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OP

Major-General Taylor, fur l\Ionterey................................
Major-Gtllleral Taylor, for Buena Vista...........................
Major-General Scott, for Battles in Mexico......................
Major-General Grant....................................................
Colonel Lee," Light-Horse Harry" .....................·..........•••
Count DeFleury, for Stony Point....................................

40
56
56
64
29
15

$1 50
3 00
3 00
8 00

1 50

2 25

NAVY.

John Paul Jones, for Serapis........................•....•••.........
Captain Hull, for Capture of Guerriere................•............
Captain Jacob Jones, for Capture of the Frolic................. .
Captain Decatur, for Capture of the Macedonian ............... .
Captain Bainbridge, for Capture of the Java ...................•.
Captain Lawrence, for Capture of the Peacock ..............••..
Captain Burrows, for Capture of the Boxer...........•.....•.....
Captain Perry, for Capture of British Fleet on Lake Erie..•
Captain Elliott, for Capture of British Fleet on Lake Erie...
Captain Warrington, for Capture of the Epervier...........•..
Captain Blakely, for Capture of the Reindeer .................. .
Captain MaeDonough, for Capture of the British Fleet on
Lake Champlain ..........•......•.•............•...................
Captain Henley, Capture of British Fleet on Lake Champlain
Lieut. Cassin, Capture of British Fleet on Lake Champlain...
Captain Biddle, for Capture of the Penguin ...................... .
Captain Stewart, for Capture of the Cyane and Levant........ .
Captain E<lw. Preble before Tripoli ........................•..•..•.•

36
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40

2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

00
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50

40
40
40
40
40
40

1
1
1
1
1
1

50
50
50
50
50
50

32
47
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
48
48
48
48
48
48

) 50

PRESIDENTIAL.

John Adams ............................................................... .
Thomas Jefferson ........................................................ .
James Madison ............................................................ .
James Monroe .......................................................... .
John Q. Ad_ams ........................................................... .
Andrew Jackson .......................................................... .
Martin Van Buren...................................................... .
John Tyler................................................................. .
James K. Polk ........................................................... .
Zachary Taylor ........................................................... .
Millard Fillmore ......................................................... .
Franklin Pierce........................................................... .
James Buchanan ........................................................•
Abraham Lincoln ........................................................ .
Andrew Johnson ......................................................... .
Ulysses S. Grant. ........................................................ .
Rutherford B. Hayes.................................................... .
James A. Garfield ........................................................ .
Chester A. Arthur ........................................................ .

48

2 50
1 50
1 50
1 50
1 50
1 50
1 50
1 50
1 50
1 50
1 502 00
2 00
2 00
2 002 00
2 002 00

Captain Perry (State of Pennsylvania), for Capture of the
British Fleet on Lake Erie..................................... . 40
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Action on Lake Erie................. . 40
Major-General Scott (Commonwealth of Virginia) ...........•.• 56

1 501 50
3 00

SUB-NATIONAL MEDAL'S.

MISCELLANEOUS AMERICAN.

Professor Agassiz J.fedal. .............................................. . 30
Colone_! Arm.strong, for Destruction of the Indian Village of
Kittanning ................................................•.......... 27
Captains Creighton, Low, and Stouffer, Wreck of Steamer
San Francisco........... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..........•••••. 47

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1 50
1 00
2 00

153

THE UNITED STATES MINT,

Captains Creighton, Low, and Stouffer, Wreck of Steamer
San Francisco, by Congress......................................
Cornelius Vanderbilt, by Congress......... :.........................
First Steam Coinage......................................................
Commodore M. C. Perry, from Merchants of Boston...........
Pacific Railroad Medal.................................................
Emancipation Proclamation Medal.................................
Cyrus W. field, Atlantic Cable Medal.............................
Dr. Joseph Pancoast.....................................................
Grant Indian Peace Medal............................................
Garfield Indian Peace Medal... ........................... (oblong)
Arthur Indian Peace Medal................................
"
"Let Us Have Peace" ............................·......................
Metis (Shipwreck) Medal...............................................
John Horn (Life Saving) Medal.....................................
U.S. Diplomatic Medal, July 4, 1776..............................
Valley Forge Centennial................................................
Great Seal .Medal.........................................................

50
48
16
40
29
29
64
48
40

$3 00
2 50

25
2 00

1 25
1 00
8 00
3 00
3 00
2 00
2 00
1 25
1 50
1 00
2 00
50
1 50

29
42
30
45
25
39

DIRECTORS OF THE MINT.

David Rittenhouse........................................................
Robert lH. Patterson............ .. ... . . . . ... .. . . .. .............. ... .. . . . .
James }{oss Snowden....................................................
James Pollock ................................................... ,.........
H. E. Linderman.........................................................

28
42
50
29
50

1 25
1 50

A. Loudon Snowden...................................................... 50

2 00

2 50
1 25
2 00

SUPERINTENDENT.

FINE GOLD MEDALS.
(See Rule a.)

Time Increases His Fame...............................................
James A. Garfield.........................................................
Commencement of Cabinet.............................................
Washington and Jackson..............................................
Lincoln and Garfield.....................................................

16
16
12
10
10

12 00
9 00
6 2.5
4 50
4 50

37
25
18
16
16
16
12
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
25

6 00
3 00
1 00
75
60
5035
25•
25
21>
25
21>
25
25
1 50

FINE SILVER MEDALS.
(See Rule 3.)

Cabinet Medal...............................................................
Presidency Relim1uished .............................. ......... .......
Allegiance Medal.........................................................
Time lnl'reases His Fame..............................................
James A. Garfield.........................................................
Pennsdvania Bi-Centennial...........................................
Cornniencement of Cabinet.............................................
Washington and Jackson..............................................
Washington and Lincoln...............................................
Washington and Grant......................... ........................
Washington Wreath........................... .... .....................
Lincoln andGrant........................................................
Lincoln Broken Column................................................
Lincoln and Garfield....................................................
Valley Forge Centennial................................................

The diameter of the medals is expressed by numbers, each of which
indicates the sixteenth of an inch.
Medals struck to order in gold, silver, or bronze, from dies of publio
lnstitutions.

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i54

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

MEDALS AND CABINET COINS.
MINT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Philadelphia, July 1, 1885.
RegulationB.

1. The price of Medals, Proof Coins, Pattern Pieces, &c., sl.all be fixed
by the Superintendent of the Mint, with the approval of the Director.
2. No Coin or Pattern Piece shall be struck after the year of its date,
nor in any other metal or allov than that in which the Coin was issued or
intended ·to Le issued, except ·experimental p:eces in Copper or other soft
metal to prove the dies, under 1he direction of the Superintendent The
dies shall be defaced at the end of each year, and s11ch impressions as the
Engraver may find necessary to take while preparing the dies shall be
destroyed in the presence of the Superintendent when the dies are finished.
3. \Vhen a Pattern Piece is adopted and used in the regular coinage in
the same year it shall then be issued as a proof, at a price n~ar its current
value; or if it comes out early in the year, it will be placed in the reg11lar
Proof Set. The Superintendent will furnish, without charge, on application therefor, a Pattern Piece to any incorporated Numismatic Society in
the United States. In such cases, if the pattern is in Gold or Silver, the
value of the metal will be required.
4. The price of the regular Proof Set of Gold Coins will be Forty-three
Dollars; the Proof Set of Silver and Minor Coins, Three Dollars. Sin~le
Gold Pieces, in proof, are sold at Twenty-five Cents each above their mtrinsic value. Silver Sets are not separated. Proof sets are furnished of the
current year only. The Mint has no Coins or Sets of back dates for sale.
5. The Coins of the United States are:GOLD.

SILVER.

Donble-Eagle,
Eagle.
Half-Eagle,
Three-Dollar,
Quarter-Eagle,
Dollar.

CoPPER-N ICKEL.

Dollar,
Half-Dollar,
Quarter-Dollar,
Dime.

Five Cents.
Three Cents.
BRONZE.

One Cent.

The coinage of the Silver Dollar of 412! grain•, the Five and ThreeCent Silver Pieces and Bronze Two-Cent Pieces was discontinued in 1873,
but the Silver Dollar was restored by the Act of February 28, 1878.
All orders must be sent to Superintendent of the Mint at Philadelphia.
DANIEL M. FOX,
Superintendent

PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON.
The frontispiece in the bound volume of this book, is an exact reproduction, by the Gutekunst phototype process, of the obverse of the Washington
medal executed by Charles C. Wright, about the year 1850, anrl particularl_v described on page 34 of the" Medallic Portraits of Washington" by
W. S. Baker, lately published (the price of which is five dollars). The' bust
was modeled by Wright, after the original by the celebrated French
sculptor, Jean Antoine Houdon, executed from a cast taken from the face
of Washington at Mount Vernon, in October, 1785, and is considered be
good judges to be the best medallic portrait of Washington yet produced.
An impression of the medal is, in the Washington Cabinet of the Mint;
the reverse presents an excellent copy of Trumbull's well known picture
of the Declaration of Independence.

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155

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

1887-

COIN CAPPROXIMATD PRICES CURRENT,
R eriscd by R. CouUon Dai•~~, Ph . G., Cum /or of the Numismatic Society.

GOLD CoLONfAL CoINS.
FINE.

ll-000.

1785, Justice-eye, "Immune Columbia " .. ...... ... ...... ...... $600 00 $500 00
1787, Sun-eagle, "Nova El,oral'a " ....... .. ... ......... ........... 300 00 150 00
S!L\'ER COLOXIALS.

1652, N. E. XII, New-England shillin f{..... .. .................
1652, " VI,
"
sixpenc~......................
1652, " Ill,
''
three pence ...................
1650, Pinetree XII, "Masathusets" sh1l1ing ..................
1652,
"
"
"
"
..... .. . .... .. ...
1652,
''
Smaller and thick er
... .. .. .... ......
1652,
XII, "Musatnsets"
........ .........
165 2,
''
VI," .Masathusets " sixpence........ .........
1652
"
III
"
th1 eepcnce.... ... ...... ..
1652:
"
II,'
"
tw opence.... ........... ..
1652, Oaktree, XII,
"
shilling....... ..... ... .. .
1652,
"
VI ,
''
sixpenec.................
1652,
"
I II,
"
threepence...............
1662,
II,
"
twopence................
1662,
"
I.
"
penny...... ...... ..... ...
1659, head shield, Lord Baltimore shilling....................
1669,
"
''
"
sixpence ..................
16.59,
"
"
"
fourpence................
1760, Charles III. rose, Florida hnlfdollar ....................
1773, George III. shield, Virginia shilling....................
1783, U.S. 1000-eye, "Nova Constellutio " ....................
1783, ' '
50().eye, "Nova Constellatio " ... ..................
1785, "
Justice-eye, "Nova Constellatio" quarter
dollar...... .......... ..... .... .......................
1783, hands clasped, Annapolis shilling...... ..................
1783,
"
"
sixpence. .. ...................
1873,
"
"
threepence .. ... .. .. .... .. .. .
1790, head "Standish Barry" threepence.. ....................
1796, female head," Castorland" half dollar....... ..........

35
40
100
50

10
200
150

00
25 00
00
20 0\1
00
40 00
00
20 00
00
5 00
00
3 00
OU
8 00
00
5 00
00
5 00
00
5 00
00
3 00
00
4 00
00
4 00
OU
4 00
00
10 00
00 10 00
00 10 00
00
10 00
00
20 00
00
6 00
00 100 00
00 75 00

100
15
15
15
26
2

00 50 00
00
5 00
00
8 00
00
8 00
00 , 10 00
00
1 50

10
8

15
15
15
15
5
6
8
8
30
15
20
20

ao

TIN CoLONIAL.

1690, horseman-shields, ,James II. tin piece...................
1776, Sun-dial" Continental Currency"........................

3 00
15 00

1 /iO
5 UO

COLONIAL COPPER COINS.

300 00
1616, hog;;ihip, "So!!1mer lsl~,nds" s~illing ............. : .. ..
16113,
sixpence .. ............... .
400 00
1694, elephant, "God preserve Carolina," half dollar .... .. 40 00
20 00
Elephant, "God preserve New England," half dollar 150 00 50 00
Elephant, "God preserve London," half dollar .... ..
2 50
1 50
1721, 2 L's," Col's Francoises," Louisiana half dollar .. .. ..
l 00
2 50
1722, 2 L's," Col's Francoises," Louisiana half dollar ....••
2 50
1 JO

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156

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

1767, 2

L's,'' Col's Francoises," stamped R. F.,

Louisiana
half dollar...........................•.......................
1767, 2 L's,'' Col's Francoises," without R. F., Louisiana
half dollar...................•..............•...............•
1766, head ship, no stamps, Pitt halfpenny ................... .
1773, George HI. shield, Virginia halfpenny ............... .
smaller size, Virginia halfpenny
1773,
"
"
U. S. A., 13 bars, Bar cent. ............................... .
1722, George I. rose," Rosa Americana," penny ........... .
1722,
"
"
"
"
halfpenny...... .
·'
"
farthing ........ .
1722,
"
"
1722,
"
"
"
••
farthing ........ .
1723, Ge~rge .I. rose, not crowneci, "Rosa Americana,"
larthmg..................................................... .
George 1. rose, "Rosa sine spina," halfpenny ........ .
1723, neorge I. crowned rose, " Rosa Americana," penny
1723, George I. crowned rose, "Rosa Americana," halfpenny ........................................................ .
1724, George I. crowned rose, "Rosa Americana," h_:dfpenny ........................................................ .
1723. George I. crowned rose, "Rosa Americana," farthing
1723, G.,orge I. crowned rose, "Rosa .\mericana," halfpenny ....................................................... .
1733, George II. crowned rose," Rosa Americana," penny
17:17, deer-hammers, "Connecticut" cent..................... .
17:{7,
"
"I am good coppe,," cent.............. .
17:3!l,
"
"
"
"
Granby cent ... .
1787,

"

"Connecticut," Granby cent ... ....... .

FINE.

GOOD.

$2 00

$1 00

4 00
2 50
1 00
75
3 50
4 00
2 50
3 00
4 00

1 50
1 50
25
25
2 00
1 50
1 00
1 50
2 00

15 00
30 00
4 00

5 00
15 00
2 00

2 50

1 50

15 00
2 50

10 00

5
30
40
40
40
40

3
20
20
20
20
20

00
00
00
00
00
00

"
axe," I cut my way through," Granby
cent ............................................................ . 40 00
No date, axe," I cut my way through," Granby cent ....... . 40 00
1778, head Indian, "~on depcmlens," cent ...................• 25 00
17ti3, U. S. eye, '' No\'a Constellatio," cent ................... ..
1 00
178:{, "
"
"
"
" .................... .
1 00
178,i, U.S. eye, "Nova f'onstellatio," cent .................... .
1 00
1783, Liberty cag, d, "Georgins Triumpho," cent.. ......... .
3 00
1787, Indian-stars, "Inimica Tyrannis," cent.. .............. .. 40 00
1785, Indian-stars, stars in circle," Inimica Tyrannis," cent 40 00
3 50
Scroll-triangle, Kentucky cent ............................ .
Scroll-triangle, lettered edge, Kentucky cent.. ....... ..
3 50
1796, Britannia-children, British settlements ................. . 25 00
1787, Indian-eagle, Massachusetts cent ........................ ..
1 00
1787,
"
"
half-cent ................... .
3 00
1788,
"
"
cent ......................... .
1 00
1788,
"
"
half-cent.. ................. .
3 00
1787, sun-<1.ial links, "We are one," Franklin cent......... .
50

1 50

00
00
00
00
00
00

1737,

20 00
20 00
15 00
40
30
40
1 2i>
20 OU
20 00
2 00
2 00
15 00
40
1 25
50
1 25
26

NEW YORK CENTS.

1786, head, Justice, "Non vi virtute vici," ................... ..
1787, Indian-eagle, "Neo Eboracus," .......................... .
1787, Indian-eagle, arms of New York, "Excelsior," ..... ..
1787, George Clinton, arms of New York," Excelsior," .. .
1786, eagle, arms of New York, "Excelsior," .................
1787

"

,,

"

,,

,.

. ............... .

1787: Justice-eagle, "Immunis Columbia," .................... .
1787, head, Liberty to right," Nova Eborac" ............... ..
1787, head, Liberty to left, "Nova Eborac," ................. .

Digitized by

75
50
40
50
60
60

00
00
00
00
00
00
8 00
2 00
2 00

Google

40
30
20
25
30
30
4

00
00

00
00
00
00
00
50
76

157

THE UNITED STATES MINT.
VERMONT CENTS.
FINE.

GOOD.

1785, head, Justice, "Immune Columbia" .................... . $15 00 $10 00
1785, Justice-eye, "Immune Columbia" ....................... . 25 00 15 00
1 00
1785, sun-eye," Vermontis Respublica" ........•..............•
3 00
5 00
2 00
1785,
"
"
"
•··············•········
1786,
"
"Vermontensium Respublica" ................. .
2 50
1 00
30
1786, head, Britannia "Vermon Auctori" .................... ..
60
25
50
1787 "
"
"
"
············••········
::;o
75
1788: "
"
"
,,
.................... .
1786, Baby head, Britannia "Vermon Auctori" .............. .
1 50
50
1787, head, Britannia" Vermon," ''Et lib Inde" ....•........
1 00
50
1 00
40
"Britannia," ............. .
1787, "
"
"
1 00
1787, "
"
George III.," rex. lnde et lib" ...... . 2 00
NEW JERSEY, CENTS.

1786, horse head, shield, '· Nova Cresarea" ................... .. $1 00
1786, horse head, shield (date under beam), "Nova
Cresarea" ................................................... . 60 00
1787, horse head, shield, large size, "Nova Cresarea" ...... .
60
1787, "
"
"
smaller, ''Nova Cresarea" ........ ..
30
2 00
l 787, "
"
"
"E pluribs," "Nova Cresarea" ...
50
1788, "
"
"
"NovaCresarea" ..................... .
1 50
1788, ''
"
"
Fox type, "Nova Cresarea" ...... .
4 00
17 88, horse head to left, shield, " Nova Cresarea" ........... .
1787, Justice-shield, "Immunis Columbia" ..................•. 25 00'

$0 30
30 00
25
10

1 00
20
40
1 00
15 00

CONNECTICUT CENTS.

1787, head to right, Britannia" Auctori Connec" ........... . $0 25 $0 10
1785-6-8, head to right, Britannia'' Auctori Connec" ..... .
50
20
1785, (Negro head) Brit8nnia "Auctori Connec" ........... .
1 00
50
1785, (Laughing head) Britannia" Auctori Connec" ....... .
1 50
75
1785, head to left, Britannia " Auctori Connec" ............. .
50
20
50
25
1786-7-8, head to left, Britannia" Auctori Connec" ....... .
1 00
50
1786-7,
"
"
"
"Et lib Inde Connec'' .. .
1 00
1 30
'' Auctori Connec" ........ .
1787-8,
"
"
"
There are many more minor types of the Connecticut and New Jersey.
SILVER DOLLARS.
FINE.

FINE.

000D.

1794, flowing hair ... $125 00 $80 00
1795,
"
" .... 3 00 2 00
3 50 2 50
1795, fillet head......
4 00 3 00
1796 ····················
1797, 6 stars facing...
5 00 3 50
"
400
350
1797 7"
1798: 13 '' small eagle 6 00 4 00
"
12 00 8 00
1798 15" "
1798; 13 " large eagle 2 50
2 00
5 00
1799, 5" facing...... 7 00
"
2 00
1 60
1799 6 ,,
1800; spread eagle..... 3 00 2 00
1801 .... ........ ......... 5 00
3 50
3 00
1802 . ... ......... .. ... . .. 4 00
1803 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 00
2 00
1804 ........................... 500 00

GOOD,

1836, name in field ... $40 00 $23 00
1836, flying eagle ...... 10 00
6 00
1838,
"
" .. . . .. 50 00 25 00
,,
" ...... 30 00 20 00
1839,
1840, Liberty seated.. 2 25
1 (iO
1841 . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 00
1 60
1 60
1842 . ····· ............... 2 00
1 60
1843 ................ ..... 2 25
1 00
1844 ..................... 2 00
1845 . .. .. . . . . .. . . .. . . •... 2 50 2 00
1846 . . . . . .. . . . . .. •. . . . . . 2 00 1 50
1847 ········............. 1 75 1 50
1848 ..................... 3 00 2 25
1849 . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 75 1 50
1850 . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . 4 00
3 00
18.jl ..................... 40 00 30 00

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158

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF
FINE.

1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
lb65
1866

GOOD.

FINE.

..................... $40 00 $30 00
............ ......... 4 00 3 00
6 00
. . . . . .. .. . .. . .... .... 8 00
. . .. .. . .. . .. . .. . . . ... 6 00 4 00
•.. ..• . .. . .. ....... .. 5 00 4 00
. ... . . . .... . . ... .. ... 4 00 3 00
..................... 40 00 30 00
. . ... ... ... ..... ••.• 1 50 1 40
..................... 1 80 1 50
1 50
. .. ....... ...... .. . . . 1 80
. .. . . . .... .. . .. . .. .. . 1 80 1 50
.......... ..... ...... 1 80 1 50
. .. .. . .. . ... ... . .. . .. 1 80 1 50
....... .. ............ 1 80 1 50
1 60
. . . . . . . ••. . .. .. . . .. . . 2 00

GOOD.

1867 ..................... $1 80 $150
1868 ..................... 2 00 176
1869 ···················· 1 50 140
1870 •···················· 1 50 140
1871 ..................... 1 50 140
1 20
1872 ......... ..........• l 30
1873 ..................... 2 00 160
1873, trade dollar...... 2 00
1 50
140
1874 "
"
1 75
1875 .,
1 50 140
1876 .,
"
1 20 116
1877 "
"
1 20 110
1878 "
1 20 115
"
1879 to 1884, proofs... 2 00 1 75-

HALF DoLLARS.
FINE.

GOOD.

FINE.

GOOD.

1794, flowing hair..... $8 00 $5 00 1807 ..................... $1 50 $125
150
1795
"
" ..... 2 50 1 50 1807, head to left...... 2 00
1796, 15 stars........... 75 00 50 00 1808 ..................... 2 00
100
n,
1796, 16 " ........... 100 00 60 00 1809 ..................... 1 00
75
1797, 15 " ··········· 75 00 40 00 1810 ..................... 1 00
7/i
1801, fillet head........ 8 00 5 00 1811 ..................... 1 25
8 00
1812-::................... 1 oo
75
1802 ········•············ 10 00
75
1803 ····················· 3 00 150 1813 ..................... 1 00
1 50
1805 ..................... 3 00
1814 ..................... 1 00
75
1806 ..................... 1 50
1815 ..................... 8 00
1 25
5 00
Half dollars, from 1817 to 1885, inclusive (excepting 1851 and 1852,
worth irom $2.50 to $5.00), from 75c. to $1.00.
·
QUARTER DoLLARS.
FINE.

GOOD.

FINE.

GOOD.

1796, fillet head ...... ,. $8 00 $4 00
1820 ·······•············· $1 00 $0 75
1821 ..................... 1 00
75
1804 ····················· 7 00 3 00
1805 ..................... 3 00 150 1822 ..................... 2 00
100
1806 ····················· 2 00 1 00 1823 ..................... 30 00 25 00
1807 ..................... 2 50
1 25
1824 ..................... 2 00
1 00
1815, head to left...... 3 00 2 00
1825 ..................... 1 00
7o
1818 ..................... 1 00
75
1827 ····················· 50 00 40 00
1819 ..................... 1 50 1 00
· Quarter dollars, from 1827 to 1885, inclusive (excepting that of 1853
without arrow heads, worth from $6.00 to $10.00), with, 50c. to 75c.
TwENTY·CENT PIECES.
F[NE.

GOOD,

1875, Liberty seated .....$0 40 $0 30
1876
"
" ..... 60
50

I

FINE.

GOOD.

1877, Liberty seated .....$5 00 $4 00
1878
"
" ••..• 5 00 4 Ou

DIMES.

1796,
1797,
1797,
1798,
1800
1801
1802

FINE.

GOOD.

fillet head ......... $4 00
13 stars............. 6 00
16 " .....•••...• 8 00
fillet head......... 6 00
. .. ... ... . .. . . . . . . . .... 8 00
............ ........... 6 00
....................... 10 00

$2 00
3 00
4 00
3 00
5 00
4 50
6 00

FINE.

1803 ....................... $4 00
1804 ....................... 12 00
1805 ······················· 1 50
1807 . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . .... 2 00
1809, head to le£t..... ... 3 00
1811 ..... ............ ....• 3 00

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GOOD.

$2 50
10 00
75
1 00
2 00
2 00

159

THE UNITED STATES MINT.

Dimes, from 1811 to 1885, inclusive (excepting that of 1846, worth
$1.00 to $2.50), frem 20c. to 35c.
HALF DIMES,
FINE,

GOOD.

FINE.

GOOD.

1794, flowing hair... $6 00 $4 00 1800, fillet head...... .i2 00 $1 50
1801 ....................
5 00
3 00
1795
"
"
2 00
1 uo
6 00 4 00
1802 .................... 125 00 80 00
1796: 15 stars.........
5 00 3 00
1803 ....................
5 00 3 00
1797, 15 " .........
1797, 16 " .........
4 00
2 00
1805 ....................
6 00
4 00
Half dimes, from 1805 to 1873, inclusive (excepting 1846, worth from
fl.00 to $2.50), from 10 to 30 cents.
SILVER THREE-CENT PIECES.

From 1851 to 1872, inclusive, worth from 15 to 75 cents, according to
llOndition.
1873...... ...... ... .. .. ... .. . ... .... . .. . ... ..... . . .... ..... ... ••• $2 00 $1 50
NICKEL FIVE-CENT PIECES.
PROOFS.

1866 ................... .
18(l7, with rays ...... .
1867, without rays .. .
1868 ................... .
1869 ................... .
1870 .................. ..
18il .................. ..
1872 .................. ..

FINE,

$0 1, $010
2 iiO
50
10
15
15
10
15
10
10
1.5
1.5
10
10
15

PROOFS,

1873
1874
18i5
1876
1877
1878
18i9

................... .
.................. ..
.................. ..
.................. ..
................... .
................... .
.................. .,

FINE.

$0 15 $0 10
15
10
15
20
15
10
30
20
2,5
40
12
10

NICKEL THREE-CENT PIECES.
PROOFS,

1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872

................... .
................... .
.................. ..
................... .
.................. ..
................... .
.................. ..
.................. ..

PROOFS,

FINH,

$0 15 $0 08
15
8
8
15
15
8
15
8
15
8
15
8
15
8

FINE.

1873 ................. .. $0 15 $0 08
15
1874 .................. ..
8
1875 ................... .
20
15
10
1876 ................... .
8
1877 ................... .
25
20
1878 .................. ..
25
20
25
20
1879 to 1884, proofs.

Two-CENT PIECES.
PROOFS.

1864
1865
1866
1867
1868

.................. ..
................... .
................. ..
................... .
.................. ..

PROOFS.

FI~E.

$0 20 $0 io
20
10
10
20
10
15
15
10

1869
1870
1871
1872
18i3

.................. ..
.................. ..
.................. ..
................... .
.................. ..

FINE. ,-

$0 15 $0 08
15
8
25.
15
50
40
125
75

COPPER CENTS.
FINE,

FINE,

GOOD,

1793, chain America $20 00 $12 00
1793, "
10 00 6 00
"
1793, wreath ...........
8 00
5 00
1793, lettered edge...
9 00
6 00
1793, liberty cap ..... 15 00 8 00
1 50
75
1794,
"
"
17\/5,
" lettered
edge ............
2 50
1 00

1795, liberty, thin die
1796,
"
~, "
17!J6, fillet head ......
1797
1798 ...................
li99 ....................
1800
1801

····················

....................
....................

Digitized by

GOOD,

$1 50 $0 50
2 00
75
2 00 100
1 50
40
1 00
25
25 00 10 00
50
1 00
1 00
50

Google

160

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF
-~---PINE.

PINE.

OOOD.

OOOD.

$125 $0 75
1802 .................... $0 50 $0 25 1806
1 00
1807
40
20
50
1803 ....................
2 00
75
1804 .................... 10 00 6 00 1808, head to left .•...
400 150
100
50 1809
1805 ·········•·········•
From 1809 to 1857, inclusive, worth from 15 to 60 cents, according to
condition.

····················
····················
....................

NICKEL AND BRONZE CENTS.
PROOFS.

PROOFS.

GOOD.

1856, eagle, pickel... $3 50 $2 50
50
5
1857 ................... .
50
5
1858 ..................•.
50
5
18,59, Indian head .. .
25
5
1860· ................... .
25
5
,1861 ...•...............•
25
5
1862 ................... .
25
5
1863 ...................•
25
5
1864 ····················
10
3
1864, bronze .......... .
IO
3
1865 ................... .
IO
3
1866 ................... .
. 1867 ................... .
10
3

1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879

OOOD.

.................. .. $0 05 $0 03
5
3
................... .
................... .
5
3
................... .
5
3
................... .
5
3
5
3
................... .
................... .
5
3
5
3
····················
5
3
................... .
5
50
................... .
................... .
5
3
5
3
·············"·····

HALF CENTS.
FINE.

FINE.

GOOD.

1793, liberty cap...... $5 00 $2 50
1 50
2 50
1794,
"
"
lettered
1795,
"
3 00 1 50
e<lge ............
179.'\, liberty, thin die
2 00 1 00
1796,
"
cap ...... 40 00 20 00
1 00
2 00
1797,
"
" lettered
1797,
"
5 00 3 00
edge ............
50
1 00
1800, fillet head ......
5 00
3 00
1802
25
50
1803
10
2-5
1804 .·
50
25
1805
5d
25
,1806
25
50
1807 ....................
50
25
1808 ...................
15
2-5
1809, head to left .....
2 50 1 00
1810
3 00 150
1811 ....................
20
40
1825
15
25
1826
20
40
1828, 1:! stars..........
10
20
1828, 13 " ..........
20
30
1829

····················
··················•·
.................
····················
····················

....................
....................
....................

····················

1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
184-5
1846
1847
1848
1849
1849,
1850
1851
1852
18-53
1854
1855
1856
1857

OOOD.

(proof) .......... $12 00
20 $0 15
····················
10
20
····················
10
...................
20
....................
10
20
(proof)
,. .......... 128 00
00
X 00
"
15 00
"
10 00
····················
.................... lUOO
10 00
....................
'
10 00
···················· 10
00
8 00
.................... 8 00
large date ......
25
40
20
30
....................
10
25
······--············
(proof) .........• 10 00
10
15
25
15
....................
25
15
····················
15
20
30.
...................
25

....................
····················
....................

····················

GOLD DOUBLE EAGLE!.
PINE.

GOOD.

18-50, head to left.... $25 00 $23 00
1851 . ............. ...... 25 00 23 00
1852 •. . . .. ... . . . . . . . . . •. 25 00 23 00

I 1853 . .. . .. . .. . . .... . . . . . $30 00 $25 00
FINE,

GOOD.

1854 ...... .............. 23 00
185-5-79, consecutive 22 00

22 50
21 75

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161

THE UNITED STATES MINT,
GOLD EAGLES.
FINE.

GOOD.

FINE.

GOOD.

1795, head to left ...... $1-'> 00
1796, W stars............ 20 00
1797, " spread eagle 15 00
1798,l3stars,
"
1600
1799, " spread "
14 00
1800 ........•............ 14 00
1801 ..................... 14 00
1803 ..................... 15 00

$13 00
15 00
13 00
1400
12 00
13 00
13 00
13 00

1804 ..................... $15 00
1838, head to left...... 15 00
1839 ..................... 15 00
1840 ..................... 15 00
1841 ..................... 13 00
1842 ....................• 13 00
1843-54, consecutive .. 12 00
1855-68,
"
.. 11 00

$13 00
13 00
12 00
12 00
12 00
12 00
11 00
10 50

GOLD HALF EAGLES.
FINE,

FINE.

GOOD.

1795, head to right.. .... $10 00
1796, 16 stars ............ 15 00
1797, " spread eagle 12 00
1798. 13 stars, ''
8 00
1799, "
"
10 00
1800 ....................... 10 00
1801 ... .. . . ..... .. ... .. .. .. 30 00
1802 ....................... 10 00
180:{ .. .. .. . . . .. . .. . . •. . . ... 8 00
1804 . ... .. ...... ... ... .. .. . 8 00
1805 ............ .. .. .. .. .. . 8 00
1806 .. .. . . .. . . . .. . . .... . .. . 8 00
1807 . ...................... 8 00
1808, head to left........ 8 00

$8 00
10 00
10 00
7 00
8 00
8 00
20 00
8 00
7 00
7 00
7 00
7 00
7 00
7 00

1809 ....................... $8 00
1810 ....................... 800
1811 ....................... 8 00
1812 ....................... 8-00
1813 . .. . . . ... . . . . . . ... .. ... 8 00
1814 ······················· 8 00
1815 ....................... 100 00
1818 .. ,.................... 8 00
1819 .. ,. .................. 8 00
1820 . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. 8 00
1821 ............ , ., .. . .. . . . 8 00
1822 ............ ,.......... 8 00
18:l3-54, consecutive... 6 00
18,55-79,
"
. 5 75

GOOD.

$7 00
700
7 00
7 00
7 00
7 00
50 00
7 00
7 00
7 00
7 00
7 00
5 75
5 50

GOLD THREE DoLLAilS.
FI~E.

GOOD.

1854, head to left ...... $4 00 $3 75
3 50
1855 ..............•...... 3 75

I 1856 .......•...........• $4 00

FINE.

1857-7\J, ~onsecutive..

GOOD.

$3 75
3 50
3 40

GOLD QUARTER EAGLES.
FINE.

1796,
1796,
1797,
1798,
1802
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808,

GOOD,

without stars....... $8 00
16 stars.............. 10 00
16 " .............. 7 00
13 " ·············· 5 00
........................ 6 00
. .. .. . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. 5 00
... . . .... ..... . . .. .. . ... 5 00
........................ 5 00
........................ 5 00
head to left... ...... 5 00

$6 00
6 00
5 00
4 00
5 00
4 00
4 00
4 00
4 00
4 00

FINE.

1821 ....................... $5 00
1824 .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . .. .. . . 5 00
1825 ........................ 5 00
1826 .. .. .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . . . 8 00
1827-4!), consecutive..... 4 00
1850 ........................ 3 25
1851 ........................ 3 25
1802 ........................ 3 25
1853-79, consecutive....• 3 00

GOOD.

$4 00
4 00
4 00
6 00
3 50
3 00
3 00
3 00
2 80

GOLD DOLLARS.
FINE.

GOOD.

1848, head to left ......... $1 ~O $1 30
1850 ........................ 1 oO 1 30
1851 •.. .. . .... ... .. . .. .. ... . l 40 l 2.5

I _18-'>~ .:................_. .......$1 40 $1 25
FINE.

1853-19, consecutive..... 1 40
•

GOOD.

1 25

CALIFORNIA GoLD.

$50 1851, octagon ............... $G5 00
$20 (Territorial), varieties.... 30 00
Eagle,
"
"
15 00
Half eagle, "
"
10 00
Quarter " "
"
5 00
Dollar (California), octagon.. 1 25
Dollar (California), circular.. 1 25

Half Joll., octagon, diff. dates $0 55
"
" circular,
"
55
Quar. "
"
35
!' " octagon
"
35
Bechtler dollar (N. Carolina) 1 50
Bechtler t eagle
''
3 50

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162

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

"Su:11uo1ARY OF ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ALL THE MINTS
AND ASSAY OFFICES, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885.

Washington, October 29, 1885.
Dr. James P. Kimball, Director of the Mint, has submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury his annual report of the operations of the mints and
assay offices of the United States, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.
The value of the gold deposited at the mints 11-nd assay offices during the
year was $56,748,752. The value of the silver deposited waa $38,082,222.
Over $32,000,000 was classified at the mints as of domestic production. The
total coining value of the gold and silver deposited and purchased at the
mints was $94,830,976, against $87,955,154 in the previous year. The decline
in the production of gold on the Pacific Coast is shown by the continued
falling off of deposits at the mint in San Francisco, the value of the gold
deposited at that institution having declined over $8,000,000 since 1881.
The coinage executed at the mints during the year was: Gold, $24,861,123;
silver, $28,848,959; minor coins, $527,557; a total of $54,237,639. Of the
silver coinage $28,528,552 consisted of standard dollars. The number of
silver dollars distributed by the mints during the year was 20,373,625.
The number in circulation increased from 39,794,913 on July 11 1884, to
45,275,710 on October 1, 1885. The amount in the Treasury increased
during the same period from $135,560,916 to $165,483,721. The Director
estimates the amount of gold and silver coin in the country on J nly 1,
1885, at $820,000,000, of which $542,000,000 consisted of gold and
$278,000,000 of silver; total coin and bullion July 1, 1885, $892,500,519.
The Director estimates the production of the world to have been during
the calendar year: Gold, $95,00J,OOO, and silver, circnlated in most cases
at its coining value, at $115,000,000.
Value in United States Money, of One Ounce Troy of Gold, at different.
Degrees of Fineness.
500 Fine •..... $10.33.6
510 " ...... 10..54.3
520 " ...... 10.74.9
580 " ...... 10.95.6
540
" ...... 11.16.3
560 " ... . .. 11.36.9
560 " ...... 11.57 .6
570 " ...... 11.78.3
580 " ...... 11.99.
590 " ...... 12. 19.6
600 " ...... 12.40.3
610 " ...... 12.61.
620 " ...... 12.81.7

630 Fine ...... $13.02.3
640 " ...... rn.23.
650 " ...... 13.43.7
660 " ...... 13.64.3
670 ,, ...... 13.85.
680

"

...... 14.0:,. 7

690
700
710
720
730
740

"
,,
"
"
"
"

......
......
......
......
... ...
......

750

"

•....• 15.50.4

14.26.3
14.47.
14.67.7
14.88.4
15.09.4
15.28.7

760 Fine..... .$15.il.1

770
780
790
800
810
820
830
840
850
860
870
880

"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"

......
......
......
......
......
......
•.....
......
......
......
......
......

890 Fine.......$18.39.8
15.91.7 900 " ....... 18.60.5
16.12.4 910 " ...... 18.81.l
16.33.l 920 " ...... 19.01.S
16.53.8 930 " ...... 19.22.5
16.74.4 910 " ...... 19.43.1
16.95. l 9.iO " ...... 19.63.S
17.15.8 960 " ...... 19.84.5
17.36.4 970 " ...... 20.05.2
li.57.1 980 " ...... 20.25.8
li.77.8 990 " ...... 20.46.5
17.98.4 1000 " ...... 20.67.2
18.19.l

N. B.-Wben there is an intermediate degree of fineness, a short calculation is necessary. For every one-thousandth, add 2.07 cents per ounce for golJ. Thus, one ounce of
gold at 992 fine-$20.50.6

Comparison of Expressing the Fineness of Gold in ThouRandths, and in
Carats.*

-

500 Fine
510
520 "
530
540 "
550 "
560 "
570 "
580 "
590 "
600 "
610
620 "

..."

.

12.00 Carats
12.08 "
12.1-5 "
12.23 "
12.a1 "
t:l.07 "
13.14 "
13.22 "
13.29 "
14.05 "
14.13

14.20
14.28

"
"
"

630 Fine
641) "
GiiO "
GGO "
670 "
GRO "
690 "
700 "
710 "
720 "
i

no "
7l!J
"
7.,0

"

1.5.0 I Carats
li>.ll "
\.1.19
1,,.-27
lG.03 "

"
"

lG.lu
11;.!8

16.25
17.01
17.09
17.17
17.21
18.0)

"

"
"
"
"
"
"
"

760 Fine
770 "
780 "
790 "
800 "
810 "
820 "
830 "
840 "

3.;o

860
870
880

"
"
"
"

18.08 Carats'
18.15 "
18.23 "
18.31 "
10,07

19.14
19.22
19.29
20.05
20.13
20.20
2~.28
21.04

"
"

"
"
"
"
"
"
"

890 Fine 21.11 Carat1>
900 " 21.19 "
910 " 21.27 "
020 " 22.02
930
22.10 "
940 " 22.18 "
951) " 22.25 "
960 " 2:1.01 "
970 " 23.09
980 " 23.17
990 " 23.24 "
ilOUO " 24.00 "

"

"
"

I

• The Carat is sub-divided into thirty-two parts.

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+-NOTE TO T:S:E VISITORS+OF THE

PHILADELPHIA MINT.
A• there are many places of Interest In "Penn'• Favorite City," the publlaher
of this work would respectfully sugg"8t that visitors, who have the leisure, should see
some of the well-known institutions of" The City of Brotherly Love." Among the mre
places of interest, after the United State• Mint, is lst.-THE NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS
(i,; same square), known as the NEW CITY HALL, the Large■t and Finest in the World,
surpassing even the Capitol at Wa1hington. 2d.-FAIRMOUNT PARK, the largest and
most beautiful public pleasure ground in the United States, embracing nearly three
thousand acres, on both sides of the Schuylk:11 ltiver, from Fairmount Water Works to
Indian Rock, on the romantic Wissahickon. 3<l.-GIRARD COLLEGE, where cl~ven
hundred and filly Orphan Boys are maintained, clothed and educated through the
bountiful munificence of Philadelphia's great benefactor, STEPHEN GIRARD. 4th.--

WANAMAKER'S GREAT STORE, East of and almost adjoining the Mint. This
immense establishment (the largest of the kind in the World) has grown to such va,t
proportions during the past decade that we feel compelled to give it a brief notice, as
it bas become one of tho features of our city, and an object of interest to our visitors.
The building itself is unique; it occupies an entire square, viz :-from Thirteenth to
Juniper and from Market to Chestnut Streets-entrance on each of the four streets.
The flooring space occupied in the interior, including first floor, basement and galleries,
embraces more than twelve acres, and all this immense space is occupfad with such
goods as everybody, at some time in life, feels tho necessity ofpurehasin:;. The general
arrangement and classification of goods from nll nations (there bcin3 over fifty sepa.rat&
and distinct departments), suggests a reproduction of the Main Building of our late

great Centennial Exposition, with the Department of Public Comfort added. One of
the great features of this Mammoth Bazaar is that visitors are made to fcl'l at home,
every provision being made for their convenience. There arc commodious Retiring
and Reading Rooms on either floor. One's Satchel and Parcels are checked without cost,

and no one Is importuned to purchase. Visitors will find it hard to resist the Temptinsi
OfFer■ and Low Price■ marked on the goods.
5th.-lNDEPENDENCE HALL,
(The Nation's Birth-place) Chestnut Street between· Fifth and Sixth Streets; National

Museum, in same building, containing many interesting r·elics of the Revolution and

of WllBhingtoo's Camp Life; The Old Liberty Bell hanging in the hallway leading
to Independence Square, where the Declaration of Independence was read to the
people, July 4th, 1776. 6th.-ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, Broad Street (west side;
between Arch and Race Streets, should be visited by all lovers of the Fin• Arts.
7th.-The NEW MASONIC TEMPLE, Northeast corner Broad and Fill>ert Streets.
Visiting days every Thursday. 8th.-The NEW POST OFFICE and U. S. COURT

BUILDING.

This is one of the finest buildings of the kind in the country, and well

worthy of a visit; also, the NEW "RECORD" BUILDING, adjoining. 9th.-The

BURIAL PLACES OF BENJAMIN

■ nd

DEBORA FRANKLIN can be seen at South-

east corner Fifth and Arch Streets. l0th.-There are other notable places of interest
in the City of "Brotherly Love," among which may be mentioned CARPENTERS•

HALL, UNION LE/I.GUE, DEAF AND DUMB AND BLIND ASYLUMS, LAUR.EL
HILL CEMETERY, PENNSYLVANIA AND WILL'S HOSPITALS, and the hundre<l
and one other benevolent instit11tions for which Philadelphia is justly celebrated.

(!)

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lHE REAL ESTATE TRUST COMPANY
OF PHILADELPH IA

1340 Chestnut Street.
Capital,

$500,00 0.

OFFICERS:
Pn■ldent.
FRANK K. lilPPLE, •
WILLIAM R. PHILLER, . Secretary.
, Treasurer.
WILLIAM F. NORTH,
THOMAS B PROSSE;R { Real E■tat•
Officer.
'
·

DIRECTOR S:
FRANK K. HIPPLE,
HENRY C. GIBSON,
LEMUEL COFFIN,
BEAUVEAU BORIE,
WILLIAM M. SINGERLY,
JOHN WAN AMAKER,
GEORGE PHILLER,
EDWARD T. STEEL,
CHARLES W. HENRY,
JOHN F. BETZ,
THOMAS DOLAN,
R. DALE BENSON.
GEORGE JUNKIN, Solicitor.
a general Real Estate bualne88, acting u agent or attorney

Company transact•
for buying, holding, leasing and selling property In the City of Philadelphia and
Tlta HIS
Ticinlty. Negotiates Mortgages and placee Ground Rentas.

to the Renting of Propertlee and the Collection of Renta, to
rIVFJd especial att.entlon
ofTuea and Water Rent.1,a11dtoth emuingofneedfu lrepairao11

\J the payment
111ch properties!· In all respects taking the aame charge and management of, and givlq
ihe same at-tent on to, Real F.atate as the owner could do•
.r<)LLE()TS Ground Renta, Intereat on Mortgagee, Divldenda and Inoome of all ltlnda
.
'\., what.loever.
ECEIVES Depoalts of Money, payable by Check on demand, and allow, Interen
Special Deposits bearlllg Intereet.
of
Certlficatea
Negotiable
thereon. Issues
CTS u Truatee, Guardian, Executor, Administrator, Aulgnee, Booeher, Commltt<ie, Attorney, etc.
Receives and e:recutea Trusts of eYery deacrlption, under the appolatmeat of
,Courta, Corporations and lDdividuals.
&come• surety for the faithful performance of an1 Trust or Office; acta u Trall8fer
Agent or Re11lstrar of !:'tock• and Bonda of Corporation■ or Munlclpalltlea.
All Trust Funds and luvestments are kept aeparate and apart from thoae of tu
<Jompany,
SSUFil Policies of Title Insurance to Real Estate and Real Eatate Seoorltlea, In Philadelphia and adjoining counties, thereby alfordlng absolute security to Purchuer■
-and their Heirs, at a nominal coat .
LSO Issues Policies of Special Insurance against Decedenta' 'Dehta, Meohanlca' Liem,
Judgments, Old Ground Rents, etc.
ECEIVES for safe-keeping Securities, Plate, Jewelry, Deeds, Mortgages, and other
Valuables, at reasonable rates.
Rent.I Safe Deposit Boxes in the Company'■ Burglar-proof Vaulta, ..Wording aecurlt7
.against loss by Robbery, Fire or Accident. Tbeee Boxes are rented according to u
-&nd location, at from Five to Fifty Dollars per annum.

R
A

I

.A
R

GENTS for the aale of the reliable Six Per Cent. Hortga~ee and Debentures of" The
New England Loan and Trust Co. of Dea Molnee. Iowa: ' and of" The New England
~ 11st Co. of Kansas City, Mi,,souri ;" both Principal and Interest guaranteed, and
lnterest payable ieml-annually, by coupon, In either Ne,r York or Philadelphia.

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j

The Union Trust Co.
611 and 613 Chestnut
PHILADELPHIA..

Authorized Capital, $f,000,000.

St!eet,

Pd.id-Up C8.ptta]_ $»00.001

EXTERIOR VIEW OF VAULTS.

CHARTER PERPETUAL.
Acts as Executor, Administrator, Assignee, etc.-alone, or in connection with
an individual ~ppointee. All '.&ust Assets kept se:paratejron, those of the Company.
Burglar-Proof Safes to rent at $6 to $60 per annum. Wills kept in Vaults
without charge. Bonds, Stocks, and other valuables taken under guarantee.
Paintings, Statuary, Bronzes, etc., kept in Fire-proof Vaults. Money received·
on deposit and interest allowed. Repository for Western Mortgage Loans,
bearing 6 and 7 per cent. Interest. Principal and Interest guaranteed.
JAMES LONG, P,·esi,dent.
JOHN G. READING, Vice-Pruident.
MABLON S. STOKES, '1.'reasurer and Secretary.
D. R. PATTERSON, '.&ust Ojjirer.
DIRECTORS:
JAMES LONG,
ALFRED o. (iILLETT,
JOSEPH W&JGHT.
DR. CHAS. P. TORNER,
WILLIAM S. PRICE,
JOHN T. MONROE,
w. J. NEAD
TaOllAS R. PATTON,
Jou,; G. READING,

WM. H. LUCAS,
WILLIAM WATSON,
HENRY s. ECKERTt.
D. HAYES AGNEW, M. D.
Philadelphia.
l!eading.
Jos. I. KEEFE,
SAMUEL RIDDLE,
EDMUND s. DOTY,
RoBERT PATTERSON,
Glen Riddle Pa.
Mifflintown.
THEODOR <. ENGEL,
,
'
JAC,OB NAYLOR,
DR, GEO~OE W. RBILY, W. W. H. DAVDI,
Taos. G. Hoon,
Harr1Sburg, Pa.
Doylestown.
EDWARD L. PERKINS, J. SrnrsoN AFRICA,
R. E. MONAGDil,.
Philadelphia.
Huntlni;<lon.
West Cheater.

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LU

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S. J'JlANX WlLl,IAJIL

DAVID F. CONOVER & CO.
(Successors to WM, B, WARNE & CO,J

Manafaoturers and Wholesale Dealers in

WATCHES ~JEWELRY,
American Watch Wholesale Salesroom:

Corner Chestnut and Seventh Streets,
(i'IRST i'LOOR,)

P~.A.DELF:S::J:.A.

CLARK BROTHERS,
No. 1227 Chestnut Street,
P:S::J:L..A..::CELF:S::J:~
Jobbers and Retailers In
Watohee, Clock• and Jewelry, Opera and Field Ola"!!•••
Sllve,·-plated Ware, Pocket Cutlery, Scissors, RevoivEre,
Pttrfumery, Photograph Albums, Fancy Article•
and Novelties, at Oreatly Reduced Prloee.

WATC!i.t.11 ABD JBW.EL&Y OA&EFULLY &EPAI&.ED AT LOW P&IOBI.

Visitors to the llrmt are specially invited to visit our :Buaar.
OPt:N FROM 7 A. M. TO 10 P. M,

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Established 1783.

J. C. McALLISTER,
(Succea■or

to W. Y. ll/IcALLISTER,)

Manufacturing

* 81>tician,

SPECTACLES, EYE-GLASSES,

1610 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
lLuL 0BDEBS

A.

8PECliLTY.

PIAf-l0S
NOT FOR THE FEW-BUT THE MILLION,
Our Prices for the renowned instruments, of which we have the sole con&rol, we have marked down BO Jo,r that you cannot afford to entertain
&he purchue of a cheap or poorly made instrument before visiting our
. W arerooms and having our prices for 8"'Ch VXlrld-jamm,,a ~ CII

The HAJ.J,E'l' & DAVIS PIANOS,
The Matchless IVERS & POND PIANOS,
And the FAMOUS MIIJ,E"R. ORGANS,
ONLY AT

OWEN

&

SIMPSON,

(Suooessors to M. DeLONO & CO.)

1117 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
!LL IW8 or PIAIOB m OWII WD 11 llCUIR.

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THE GOODWIN GAS STOVE AND METER CO.
1012 to 1018 FILBERT STREET.

Salesroom , 629 Arch St., Philadelp hia.
SOLE MANUFACTURERS OF THB

"SUN DIAL" GAS COOKING I HEATING STOVES.
The lost Economlcal, Efficient and Durable Gas Ston ·lade.

laft&Me for Pamntee, Hotefe, :Reatauranta, and Publlo lnatltutlona, LAunltry, 'llatten'·
111111 Tailors' Heatera, Hot Platea, Bolling Stovea, Hot Water Generaton.
Broiling Ranges. Waffle Baltera1 Contectlonera' Heaters, Warmlnf.
Qoeeta, Cheerful Heating 8io1'-. Agente for Verity Br-.'
l'litent Gu FiNlll for Open Gratee or Fire Placea.
The appearaDce la that or a Coal Fire.

. , . Send for Catalogues and Price Lista.

4 West 14th St., and 142 Chambers St., New York..
76 Dearborn Street, Chicago.

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